Hungering and Thirsting

Can you remember the last time you were hungry — I mean really hungry? Maybe it was yesterday, when you got caught up in running errands and doing housework and forgot about lunch. Maybe it was last week when you had a light lunch because you knew you were going out for dinner that night, but by the time you got to the restaurant you were famished.

How about the last time you were thirsty? I don’t mean the last time you thought, “I should drink some water” or “That iced tea looks good.” I mean the last time you felt so dry that you couldn’t concentrate on anything until you quenched that deep-seated thirst. Can you remember the last time you felt that way?

Think about the difference between liking food or water, being “in the mood” for a snack or a drink… and true hunger and thirst. There’s really no comparison, is there? When we’re truly hungry or thirsty, we can think of little else. Those natural physical drives push us to fulfill our needs, to find and take in what we’re missing. It’s a matter of necessity.

I’ve been studying the Sermon on the Mount lately (found in Matthew 5-7) and one verse continues to stick with me.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
- Matthew 5:6

Notice that Jesus doesn’t say, “Blessed are those who try to be righteous” or “Blessed are those who think that pursuing righteousness is a good idea.” Both of those statements would describe me most of the time. Of course I think pursuing righteousness is a good idea. Who doesn’t? But Jesus calls us deeper. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. I don’t know about you, but on a day-to-day basis, I often fall short in this area. I allow myself to settle for the “righteousness is a really good idea,” approach when I should be looking for more.

I’ve been asking myself: How would my life look if it were consistently characterized by a deep hunger and thirst for righteousness, if righteousness was my primary passion, if I could think of little else? How would my priorities change? How would I spend my time differently? How about my money? What attitudes, beliefs, or concerns would have to be uprooted and replaced by different ones?

For starters, I’m sure I’d spend less time seeking “me-time,” and less money on frivolous things. I’d give more: more time to my husband and children, more money to those in need, more effort to serve the Church.

As I’ve ponder these thoughts, I’ve realized something else. I honestly doubt that any of us — in our human condition — can muster up a true, passionate hungering and thirsting for righteousness. Our desires and motives are so flawed that even when we try, we will fall short. So how do we get there? How can we attain that state Jesus calls “Blessed” in our pursuit of righteousness? Pray.

Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that you would give me a hunger and thirst for righteousness, Your righteousness. Let it be my motivator, my schedule-decider, my priority-adjuster. I can’t do it apart from you. Amen.