Righteousness

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for Righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

What are you hungry for today?  A Big Mac? How about the Lobster Lover's Dream? Maybe all-you-can eat salad and breadsticks?  Do you thirst for a cherry limeade or maybe a double chocolate hot fudge malt?

Of course, this isn't what Jesus meant when he preached this fourth in the series of happy living.

Satisfying your hunger for food is only temporary. Satisfying your boredom with a leisurely walk is only a quick, temporary fix.

What is it that's missing in your life?  What is it that's not there?  A lot of people really don't know what they want in life. The Bible says we are spiritual beings and God made us to love Him and to know Him and be loved by Him.  Nothing will take the place of that.  There is no substitute.  You need to recognize what your real hunger is.  Your hunger is your spiritual being and you hunger for God.  The sooner you recognize that, the better.

How does God give us a hunger for Himself?  Deut. 8:3 "So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna... that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord."

God is clearly saying "What you want is not pleasure, not possessions, not performance.  It's Me!"  God is saying "Quit eating spiritual junk food! What you are really looking for is Me!"

To further help us understand this beatitude we must ask ourselves, what is meant by righteousness?  Righteousness means being in complete accordance with what is just, honorable, and Godly. Righteousness are those things that are upright, virtuous, noble, morally right, and ethical. You could say that righteousness is a lifestyle that is in complete conformity to the will of God. It is a lifestyle that Jesus not only finds pleasing, but one that He approves of.

It's interesting that our appetites are influenced by our associations.  You get around hungry people, you get hungry. If you hang out with people who like the world's junk food, that's what you're going to be into.  If you want to have an appetite for godly things, get around people who have a godly appetite. Spiritual hunger is contagious.

John 8:35 "Jesus said, 'I am the Bread of Life.  Whoever comes to Me will never go hungry and whoever believes in Me will never be thirsty ... If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever!'"  How's that for Wonder Bread?