It is so easy for us as Christians to blur the line between seeking more from God and seeking more of God. 

In our walk with God, it is natural to bring our needs before Him. Jesus Himself taught us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11). God is not opposed to us asking for things—we are His children, and He delights in caring for us (Matthew 7:11). But problems arise when our relationship with Him becomes primarily transactional—when our prayers are focused more on what we can get from Him, rather than on knowing and enjoying more of Him.

In recent decades, the rise of the prosperity gospel has further blurred the lines between seeking God's face and seeking His hand. This teaching emphasises that God’s primary will for believers is to be healthy, wealthy, and materially successful—and that faith, positive declarations, and generous giving will unlock those blessings.

While it's true that God delights in blessing His children (James 1:17), the prosperity gospel distorts biblical truth by presenting God as a divine vending machine. The focus subtly (or sometimes blatantly) shifts from the Creator to created things—wealth, success, healing, promotion, and influence. As Paul warned in Romans 1:25, "They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator."

This subtle shift is easy to miss. We may still attend church, serve, and speak Christian language, but if we examine the desires of our hearts, are we primarily chasing blessings, breakthroughs, or benefits? Or are we pursuing the Giver above the gifts? 

When the lines between seeking more of God and more from God are blurred, the result is often a Christianity centered on self—our wants, our dreams, our breakthrough. But Jesus never promised that following Him would lead to material abundance. In fact, He often taught the opposite.

In John 6, after Jesus fed the multitude, the people followed Him—not because they understood who He was, but because they wanted more bread. Jesus said to them, “You are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill” (John 6:26). They wanted more from Him—but not more of Him.

Contrast this with Peter’s response when many turned away after Jesus’ hard teachings: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God” (John 6:68-69). Peter and the other faithful disciples desired more of God—even when it was difficult.

In Exodus 33, God told Moses He would send an angel to lead Israel to the Promised Land, but He Himself would not go with them because of their stubbornness. For many, that would have been enough—land, prosperity, and protection. But Moses responded, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here” (Exodus 33:15). Moses would rather stay in the wilderness with God than enter the land without Him. He longed for God’s presence above His provision.

As parents, we love it when our children come to us not because they want something but because they just want to be with us. The same way, God loves it when His children come to Him just because of who He is and nit just because of what they expect from Him.

Micah 6:8 tells us clearly: “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?”  This verse points us toward a relationship—a walk with God. God desires communion with us, not just our requests. He calls us to seek His face, not just His hand (Psalm 27:8). Jesus affirmed this in Matthew 6:33: “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

God is not against blessing us—but He wants to be our first and greatest pursuit.

How then do we seek more of God?

Through the Word – God's nature is revealed through Scripture. The more we read it, the more we understand His heart (Psalm 119:105).
Through Prayer – Not just speaking, but listening. Prayer is a dialogue, not a monologue (Philippians 4:6-7).
Through Worship – Worship centers our focus on God’s worth, not our wants (John 4:23-24).
Through Obedience – As we obey God, we grow closer to Him (John 14:21).
Through Suffering – Even trials can draw us closer to God when we choose to lean on Him (Romans 5:3-5).

The question “More of God or more from God?” is not just rhetorical—it’s deeply personal. Our answer shapes the course of our spiritual lives. When we seek more of God, we get everything we truly need, because He is our greatest treasure. As Psalm 73:25-26 beautifully declares: “Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

May we be people who desire God—not just for what He can give, but for who He is.