Do You Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness?

Can you think of anything else when you are hungry? How about when you are thirsty? It’s hard to focus or be productive in either of these situations. Which brings us to the question: do you hunger and thirst for righteousness?

Have we reached the point in our spiritual lives where we are truly hungry for more of God? As we think about what Jesus said in his sermon, we must ask ourselves if we measure up.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Matthew 5:6 (ESV)

What does it mean to hunger and thirst for righteousness?

Living in an age of grace, we sometimes take that grace for granted. Too often, we glide along satisfied that since we are saved, there is little to strive for. We become complacent in our attitudes towards vibrant spiritual living.

The New Testament calls us to become like Jesus. This is the heart of hungering and thirsting for righteousness. Jesus was perfectly righteous as he walked upon the earth. He is perfectly righteous today in heaven.

Three dimensions of spiritual hunger

There are three important dimensions of righteousness: the heart (the mind – how we think), how we speak and what we do.

To live a righteous life in what we say and do, we must first have a mind that is tuned to the righteousness of God. Righteousness starts with how we think.

Then righteousness is expressed in what we say. Now, it’s easy to fake good words but true righteousness will always be revealed by the expression of all our speech!

To be righteous in all we do, it is important that we have God’s righteousness within. A righteous life is a demanding life. It is a self-denying life.

How are we satisfied?

This verse promises blessing for those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. Certainly, Jesus was referring to himself in finding that blessing and that satisfaction.

But, as with everything in a healthy relationship, the blessing in Jesus comes not just through his grace but through our effort. Not to be misunderstood – I am not referring to us having to strive for salvation but for a striving – a hungering – for righteousness. God empowers every effort we make by his grace. He transforms us as we engage in our relationship with him.

That relationship is nurtured in two primary ways.

Prayer

Relationships are built on communication. Prayer of thanksgiving, praise and petition are part of our daily walk with Jesus. We cannot follow him if we are not talking to him. There is so much to say about prayer that we cannot cover here but you can find more here and here.

The word of God

God reveals himself primarily through his word. So as we read, study and meditate on his word we learn about him. Not only that, since God’s word is alive and vibrant and powerful, we are transformed as we learn about him. His word is essential in personal transformation.

Reading the Bible is a lifelong endeavor. Every time you read, you can discover something new about God and about yourself. His word will encourage, teach, correct and rebuke you. You can learn more about reading and studying his word here and here.

Your turn

Are you hungry and thirsty for righteousness? Ask God to increase your desire to experience him through his word and prayer and see what happens next.