WHAT WE HUNGER FOR

        The other day I was reading Matthew and came across the Beatitudes, that wonderful set of faith statements Jesus spoke during His sermon on the Mount. One of them is a favorite: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” (Matthew 5:6)
        It occurred to me people today hunger and thirst after just about everything except righteousness. “Righteousness won’t pay the bills,” someone says, so they hunger and thirst after possessions, pleasure, power or prestige. That’s what the world teaches us, and when it comes to learning wrong information or following wrong ways, we are very good students.
        What we hunger for helps make us who we are. If we constantly seek frivolous things, we will miss what is important. If we hunger and thirst for the toys of technology, we will tire when they become obsolete. Then we must seek something newer and better, forgetting that having the latest electronic gadget does not guarantee any happiness.
        What will you be seeking today? What are you hungry or thirsty for? Why not seek what is precious and lasting? Why not pray to God for His guidance? Why not help someone in need, give some money or goods to the poor, or quietly stop doing something that you know is wrong?
        It’s not a sin to hunger or thirst for some gadgets or trinkets. They, too, are God’s blessings. But possessions must not become the center of life. None of that produces righteousness. Jesus will show us the truly important things if we ask Him or read His Word.
        The main purpose of God’s Word is to show us that Jesus is our Savior. The Old Testament points towards the coming Savior, and the New Testament points back that Jesus is the promised Savior. Jesus is the center of it all.
        Read your Bible today, not many pages, just a small portion. Read a passage, think about it, and pray about it. You will be surprised how God will show you His righteousness. And the perhaps, you, too, will be satisfied.
        Help us, O Lord, to be satisfied with what You have given us. Thank You for it, and help us use it wisely and share it with others, amen

Rev. Bob Tasler, www.bobtasler.com