Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6
How would you define hunger? Have you had to “fast” before a blood test? No food after midnight and you can’t eat until after they draw your blood. It is uncomfortable yet relatively easy if your appointment is at 8:30 in the morning. But, what if your appointment is at 1:30 in the afternoon? What if you are having a medical procedure and have to go twenty-four hours or more without food? Then how would you define hunger?
hunger – feeling of discomfort or weakness caused by lack of food coupled with desire to eat.
A simple desire to eat is not hunger. Believe me, as a person who has a complicated relationship with food, I know. Sometimes a desire to eat is just something to do. Sometimes it is triggered by boredom. Sometimes it is triggered by anxiety or sadness. Sometimes it is used as a way to celebrate. When hunger is defined simply a desire to eat, I tend to just snack a little here and a little there. I end up eating things that are not healthy. Or I graze on a wide variety of things. And then when it is “time” to eat a healthy, well balanced meal. I am not interested.
The definition of thirst is similar.
thirst – feeling of needing or wanting something to drink.
Simply wanting something to drink is easily satisfied with just about anything I can pour in a glass or cup. But, when I need something to drink, when my body needs to be hydrated only water satisfies and replenishes.
Let’s look at the verse again, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness…” This is more than a simple desire or want. It is easy to say we desire righteousness. Even the Pharisees had a desire to appear righteous. But, Jesus is speaking of so much more than appearances. Before I finish that thought, let’s define righteousness.
righteousness – to acquire, vindicate, restore to a right relationship with God and others
To hunger and thirst to be in right relationship with God, is a need that must be satisfied not simply a want or desire. It is a drive within us that has to be met or we become weak and uncomfortable. Think about this…the homeless people we often see on the side of the road with signs. What do the signs say? They are usually asking for food or money to buy food. They are so hungry that their entire day is consumed with the task of acquiring food. Let that sink in. Now read the verse again.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness…” What if I pursued righteousness with as much fervor as a homeless person pursues food? What if restoring and maintaining a right relationship with God was so vital to my existence that I become uncomfortable and weak when I turn my attention to something else? Well, isn’t that exactly what happens when we don’t spend time with the LORD? We become weak and uncomfortable. And when we are not maintaining a right relationship with God, we cannot fully maintain a right relationship with others. And when we do hunger and thirst for righteousness. When we pursue a right relationship with God, we will be filled, not just appeased, not just satisfied, but filled.
