The Hungry and Thirsty

Someone once asked me if I had ever been hungry and thirsty. Of course I said, “Sure!” But since then I’ve been exposed to people who are starving and heard stories of people who died from dehydration. I haven’t been THAT hungry and thirsty! But what if I was? What would it be like? What would it look like? If you met me would you notice it? Could I hide it; would I hide it, if I knew I was starving or dying of thirst? Would I ask for help? Would you offer it?

Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6).

Being hungry and thirsty is only a blessing if you realize it and if you find food and water. We tend to think that it is a blessing to NOT be hungry and thirsty – to be full and satisfied – but spiritually this is deadly. When we don’t feel our spiritual need we won’t look to Jesus for salvation. We’ll stay in our sin and die of starvation while the “bread of life” (Jesus – Jn 6:35) offers us life. We’ll stay in our sin and die of dehydration while Jesus offers us life with “living water” (Jn 7:38). There is a blessing in being spiritually hungry and thirsty because Jesus promises we will be filled (“satisfied” NASB, ESV).

So, “hunger and thirst for righteousness” actually creates the opportunity for us to be blessed – to be “filled.” So, do we really have “hunger and thirst for righteousness”? Remember when I was asked whether I had ever been hungry and thirsty and thought I had been, but then realized I hadn’t been REALLY hungry and thirsty? I’m afraid our spiritual hunger and thirst is the same way. We think we are hungry because we sit through some worship services. We think we are thirsty because we occasionally read our Bibles. But is that what the hunger and thirst for righteousness really looks like? If someone saw us would they think we are acting like people who are spiritually starving and dehydrated?

Physical food and water are two of our most basic needs to live. I think that is why Jesus chose hunger and thirst as metaphors for the drives we are to have for righteousness. We need to have a craving for the things of God as our basic need. We are to know and feel we can’t live without righteousness. That means it will be obvious by what we say and do and emphasize in life. We will be constantly searching for opportunities to be fed the bread of life and drink the living water. No one will have to force or guilt us into spiritual eating and drinking opportunities.

How happy God’s people are when they are “filled!” They taste the Lord and know He is good (Ps 34:8; 1 Pe 2:1-3). This drives us back to the Lord’s table. It gives us reason to be happy in life (even when physical things go wrong). And we can’t help but share this overflowing feast with others who are hungering and thirsting.

Feast on the Lord and be filled! Go into the “roads and hedges” (Lk 14:23) and invite – even “compel” – people to come to the Lord’s spiritual feast – “for they shall be filled” (Mt 5:6).       dd