--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is a myth that man in his natural…" description: "\"It is a myth that man in his natural state is genuinely seeking God. Men do seek God. But they do not seek him for who he is. They seek him in a pinch ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a10/john-piper-255_conversion_it-is-a-myth-that-man-in-his-natural-sta_801747.jpg" --- # It is a myth that man in his natural state is genuinely… ![“It is a myth that man in his natural state is genuinely seeking God. Men do seek God. But they do not seek him for who he is. They seek him in a pinch as one who might preserve them from death or enhance their worldly enjoyments. Apart from conversion, no one comes to the light of God.” quote by John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a10/john-piper-255_conversion_it-is-a-myth-that-man-in-his-natural-sta_801747.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a10/john-piper-255_conversion_it-is-a-myth-that-man-in-his-natural-sta_801747.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a10/john-piper-255_conversion_it-is-a-myth-that-man-in-his-natural-sta_801747.jpg) > “It is a myth that man in his natural state is genuinely seeking God. Men do seek God. But they do not seek him for who he is. They seek him in a pinch as one who might preserve them from death or enhance their worldly enjoyments. Apart from conversion, no one comes to the light of God.” [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often seek God only for personal benefit, not for who God truly is. **In simple terms:** Seeking God for self‑interest, not relationship. Key Takeaway Pursue a genuine relationship with the divine. Themes theology human nature spirituality motivation Mood contemplative serious Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - personal prayer - community worship - ethical decisions - life purpose Key Concepts existential purpose faith authenticity Questions to Reflect On - What motivates your spiritual search? - How can you move beyond self‑interest? A Different Perspective Some may genuinely seek God for love, not utility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conversion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conversion/) [Enjoyment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoyment/) [Genuinely Seeking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genuinely-seeking-6137603/) [God Seek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-seek/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Light Of God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light-of-god/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Myth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myth/) [Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Preserves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preserves/) [Seek God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seek-god-365870/) [Seeking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seeking/) [Seeking god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seeking-god/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Worldly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worldly/) ## Related quotes > [Know that when you seek anything of your own, you will never find God, because you do not seek God purely. You are seeking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/know-that-when-you-seek-anything-of-your-own-you-will-never-find-god/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [“For whoever does not truly have God within themselves, but must constantly receive him in one external thing after another, seeking God in diverse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/for-whoever-does-not-truly-have-god-within-themselves-but-must/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [Only those seeking god can believe, and only those beliving in god, can seek him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devynald-morrison/only-those-seeking-god-can-believe-and-only-those-beliving-in-god-can/) [Devynald Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devynald-morrison/) > [“Start and end your day with God. Seek His presence and blessing daily.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/start-and-end-your-day-with-god-seek-his-presence-and-blessing-daily/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“enlightened ones do not seek God. They seek only to destroy the faith of those who do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shulem-deen/enlightened-ones-do-not-seek-god-they-seek-only-to-destroy-the-faith/) [Shulem Deen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shulem-deen/) > [What is an idol? It is anything more important to you than God, anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/what-is-an-idol-it-is-anything-more-important-to-you-than-god/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [You don’t need to seek opportunity. All you have to do is seek God. And if you seek God, opportunity will seek you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/you-don-t-need-to-seek-opportunity-all-you-have-to-do-is-seek-god-and/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [“ Seek if you have not found. “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss . . .” (James 4:3). If you ask…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/seek-if-you-have-not-found-you-ask-and-do-not-receive-because-you-ask/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [There are two kinds of people in the world: those who seek God and those who seek to avoid him... and both will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-boa/there-are-two-kinds-of-people-in-the-world-those-who-seek-god-and/) [Kenneth Boa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-boa/) > [The only way to seek God is to seek God first. Deny the nayward, affirm the yeaward, be true to those stirrings and motions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-toomer/the-only-way-to-seek-god-is-to-seek-god-first-deny-the-nayward-affirm/) [Jean Toomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-toomer/) > [“What’s a brokenhearted person to do? We must praise God, seek God, look to God, call to God, experience God, fear God, learn from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysa-terkeurst/what-s-a-brokenhearted-person-to-do-we-must-praise-god-seek-god-look/) [Lysa TerKeurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysa-terkeurst/) > [When you love your dream and you spend more time thinking about them than seeking God's favor you ended up being frustrated. Because sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-malabago/when-you-love-your-dream-and-you-spend-more-time-thinking-about-them/) [Regina Malabago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-malabago/) > [If you're having a difficult time making the best decision then consider fasting. Fasting is simply taking something you regularly do and replacing it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-black/if-you-re-having-a-difficult-time-making-the-best-decision-then/) [Dan Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-black/) > [If God exists, not seeking God must be the gravest error imaginable. If one decides to sincerely seek for God and doesn't find God,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/if-god-exists-not-seeking-god-must-be-the-gravest-error-imaginable-if/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [If we seek God for our own good and profit, we are not seeking God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/if-we-seek-god-for-our-own-good-and-profit-we-are-not-seeking-god/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) ## More by John Piper > [“Even in the miserable guilt we feel over our beastlike insensitivity, the glory of God shines. If God were not gloriously desirable, why would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/even-in-the-miserable-guilt-we-feel-over-our-beastlike-insensitivity/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [The absence of God in most spheres of life is perceived to be normal, and even Christians feel it as normal - which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/the-absence-of-god-in-most-spheres-of-life-is-perceived-to-be-normal/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [“The Spirit inspired the Word and therefore He goes where the Word goes. The more of God's Word you know and love, the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/the-spirit-inspired-the-word-and-therefore-he-goes-where-the-word/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [Do you feel loved by God because you believe he makes much of you, or because you believe he frees you and empowers you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/do-you-feel-loved-by-god-because-you-believe-he-makes-much-of-you-or/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [“Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn't. Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man. When this age is over, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/worship-is-missions-exists-because-worship-doesn-t-worship-is/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [What is sin? It is the glory of God not honored. The holiness of God not reverenced. The greatness of God not admired. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/what-is-sin-it-is-the-glory-of-god-not-honored-the-holiness-of-god/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [Love is doing what will enthrall the beloved with the greatest and longest joy. What will enthrall the beloved this way is the glory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/love-is-doing-what-will-enthrall-the-beloved-with-the-greatest-and/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [“If you hold a grudge, you doubt the Judge.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/if-you-hold-a-grudge-you-doubt-the-judge/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [Evangelicals are distraught over the state of America because they have not been taught that we're aliens here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/evangelicals-are-distraught-over-the-state-of-america-because-they/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [“Worship is the highest moral act a human can perform, so the only basis and motivation for it that many people can conceive is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/worship-is-the-highest-moral-act-a-human-can-perform-so-the-only/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [Do you love the cross because it makes much of you? Or do you love it because it enables you to enjoy and eternity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/do-you-love-the-cross-because-it-makes-much-of-you-or-do-you-love-it/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [“job 14:1 man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of troubles "If that isn't your experience now it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/job-14-1-man-who-is-born-of-a-woman-is-few-of-days-and-full-of/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [“Not to aim to show God is not to love, bc God is what we need the most deeply. And to have all else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/not-to-aim-to-show-god-is-not-to-love-bc-god-is-what-we-need-the-most/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [God has given us prayer as a wartime walkie-talkie so that we can call headquarters for everything we need as the kingdom of Christ…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/god-has-given-us-prayer-as-a-wartime-walkie-talkie-so-that-we-can/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [Ignatius, when he heard the clock strike, would say, "Now I have another hour to answer for." (Eph. 5:16)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/ignatius-when-he-heard-the-clock-strike-would-say-now-i-have-another/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) [Explore all 803 John Piper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) ## More Conversion quotes > [“The power of imagination is strongest in the place of solitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/the-power-of-imagination-is-strongest-in-the-place-of-solitude/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [One thing the young Christian should be taught as quickly as possible after his conversion is that Jesus Christ is all he needs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/one-thing-the-young-christian-should-be-taught-as-quickly-as-possible/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [The figure of the enthusiast who has just discovered jogging or a new way to fix tofu can be said to stand or, more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-h-lapham/the-figure-of-the-enthusiast-who-has-just-discovered-jogging-or-a-new/) [Lewis H. 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To reproduce your life is to impact the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/to-reproduce-your-life-is-to-convert-it-into-tangible-products-for/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“Time is the only inborn wealth”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/time-is-the-only-inborn-wealth/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“Take hold of your passing time and convert it into living your dreams. Only then can you truly fulfill the great destiny that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/take-hold-of-your-passing-time-and-convert-it-into-living-your-dreams/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“Greatness can be bought with the currency of time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/greatness-can-be-bought-with-the-currency-of-time/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [Agricultural demand for water - probably the largest threat to freshwater species - continues to increase. ... Meanwhile, threats to terrestrial biodiversity - primarily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indur-m-goklany/agricultural-demand-for-water-probably-the-largest-threat-to/) [Indur M. 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