Pursuing Things Instead of Pursuing God — And the Consequences of It

Every believer stands at a daily intersection of desire: Will we pursue God above all else, or will the pursuits of this world win our attention? Scripture repeatedly warns us that a heart divided between God and earthly pursuits will inevitably drift, weaken, and eventually suffer consequences. God designed our hearts to be centered on Him, and anything that takes His place becomes an idol that slowly erodes spiritual life.

Below is an expanded look at what happens when we pursue things instead of God—and the spiritual consequences that follow.

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I. The Slow Drift From Devotion

The first consequence of misplaced pursuit is spiritual drift. This drift rarely happens through a single act of rebellion; it unfolds gradually, as our affections shift from God to lesser things.

Matthew 6:33 reminds us to “seek first the kingdom of God,” yet many believers unintentionally begin seeking comfort, success, or approval first. Over time, the heart that once delighted in God becomes distracted, divided, and spiritually dry. Like Israel, we often drift not from hatred of God but from allowing our minds to be captured by secondary pursuits.

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II. The Illusion of Satisfaction

Earthly pursuits promise fulfillment, but they never deliver lasting satisfaction.

Jeremiah 2:13 describes God’s people as drinking from “broken cisterns that can hold no water.” This image reminds us that worldly success, material gain, and personal achievement can never quench spiritual thirst. They may offer temporary excitement, but they cannot produce peace, identity, purpose, or rest.

Only God satisfies the soul (John 4:14). Everything else leaves us empty.

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III. The Decline of Spiritual Discernment

When the pursuit of things becomes the focus of life, spiritual discernment weakens. The voice of the Holy Spirit, once clear and comforting, becomes faint.

This decline shows itself in several ways:

• Prayer becomes inconsistent or rushed. 

• Scripture reading becomes information rather than transformation. 

• Sin begins to feel less serious. 

• The world’s values appear more reasonable than God’s.

Jesus warned in Mark 4:19 that “the cares of this world” choke the Word. A heart filled with the pursuit of things has little room left for divine wisdom.

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IV. The Rise of Anxiety and Restlessness

One of the clearest consequences of pursuing things instead of God is anxiety. When we chase earthly pursuits, we assume the burden of securing our own future.

Jesus says in Matthew 6:31–32 that it is the unbelieving world that “runs after all these things.” Those who chase possessions, status, or earthly success live under constant fear of losing them.

But those who pursue God first find rest, because God Himself carries their burdens. 

Misplaced pursuit leads to pressure. 

Right pursuit leads to peace.

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V. The Erosion of Intimacy With God

Relationships fade when affection fades. A believer who pursues earthly things more than God gradually loses the intimacy that once defined their walk with Christ.

Jeremiah 29:13 promises that we will find God when we seek Him with all our heart. But half-hearted pursuit leads to weak fellowship. When other pursuits receive the best of our time and energy, God is left with the leftovers.

Spiritual dryness, guilt, and distance from God are inevitable results.

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VI. Becoming What We Pursue

Scripture teaches that we eventually resemble what we chase. Psalm 115:8 warns that those who trust in idols “become like them.”

 This principle is spiritually powerful:

• Pursuing wealth can make us greedy. 

• Pursuing pleasure can make us restless. 

• Pursuing approval can make us insecure. 

• Pursuing God shapes us into the likeness of Christ.

What we pursue forms our character. 

Our pursuit determines our spiritual direction.

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VII. The Blessing of Returning to God

The good news is that God restores wandering hearts. No matter how far we drift, God welcomes us back with open arms when we return to Him as our first love.

When we realign our priorities:

• Peace replaces anxiety. 

• Discernment becomes sharp again. 

• Joy is restored. 

• Contentment grows. 

• Purpose becomes clear. 

• The soul finds rest in God alone.

Pursuing God first does not mean abandoning responsibilities; it means placing everything in its right order. When God is the center of life, every other pursuit becomes healthier, wiser, and more fruitful.

God deserves first place—and life works best when He has it.

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©2025 Steven Miller Ministries.