This is the fourth sermon in our series "The Way To Happiness". Everyone wants to be happy, and the New Testament is our greatest authority on the subject. Jesus Christ gives us the key that will unlock the door to happiness in the eight Beatitudes.
Matthew 5:3-12 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
The word translated “blessed” is sometimes translated “happy.”
In this sermon, the fourth in the series Jesus says that the hunger and thirst for righteousness leads to happiness.
The audio recording of the sermon is at the YouTube link at the end of the manuscript.
Matthew 5:3-12 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
The word translated “blessed” is sometimes translated “happy.”
In this sermon, the fourth in the series Jesus says that the hunger and thirst for righteousness leads to happiness.
The audio recording of the sermon is at the YouTube link at the end of the manuscript.
Scripture Reading:
Matthew 5:1-12 ESV Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Text:
Matthew 5:6 ESV "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Introduction
This is the fourth in our series The Way To Happiness. In the series we’ve been looking at the Beatitudes, which we just read and which means extreme blessing or happiness. You will remember that the Beatitudes are part of a sermon that Jesus gave to his followers early in His earthly ministry. The Sermon on the Mount is a declaration of the kingdom of God and declares what the followers of Jesus, the people of the kingdom, are through the grace of God working in our lives. That entire sermon is in Matthew 5-7.
The first thing that Jesus said would bring happiness is humility
Matthew 5:3 ESV "Blessed are the poor in spirit (or humble), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Then he said that Sorrow is the way to Happiness.
Matthew 5:4 ESV "Blessed are those who mourn (or who are sorrowful), for they shall be comforted.
Last week we talked about meekness leading to happiness.
Matthew 5:5 ESV "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Next Jesus said, and here’s our text for today,
Matthew 5:6 ESV "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
No two people are exactly alike. They never have been and never will be. Even identical twins aren’t exactly alike. We are different from one another in so many ways. We have different fingerprints; eye, hair, and skin colors; heritage; intelligence levels; and personalities, not to mention height and weight.
However we are all alike in that in that we all get hungry and thirsty. Jesus, as in his usual way of simplifying something complicated, used this common demonstration, of hunger and thirst, to express the truth of the fourth way to happiness, which is that those who hunger and thirst after righteousness will be satisfied.
It is a little strange that someone who is hungry and/or thirsty can be happy, but Jesus explained that the right kind of hunger and thirst leads to happiness.
Notice that the first three Beatitudes we talked about were an emptying process. They are descriptions of humility;
Matthew 5:3 ESV "Blessed are the poor in spirit (or humble), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Mourning or sorrow over our sin;
Matthew 5:4 ESV "Blessed are those who mourn (or who are sorrowful), for they shall be comforted.
Meekly accepting criticism without retaliation or defensiveness
Matthew 5:5 ESV "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Now we come to seek for an answer to our emptiness. In the Greek this verse denotes one of desiring, not just a portion but all of the righteousness of God. Righteousness cannot be achieved in our own strength; it is a standing before God. God has imputed to us righteousness because we believe in Jesus Christ There are two types of righteousness
(1) Of the law, which at its best leads to self-righteousness which results in judging others.
(2) Righteousness given by God through believing in Jesus Christ This is the righteousness of Christ.
We cannot improve upon this righteousness, and it leads to gratefulness. Righteousness is being right with God and our fellow man. We're not to hunger and thirst after happiness, but after righteousness. Blessed is the man, not who is righteous, but who hungers and thirsts after righteousness.
Matthew 5:6 ESV "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
In the Greek this verse indicates a desire of, not just a portion but all of the righteousness of God.
As hunger and thirst are the most highly developed of our natural appetites, this hunger and thirst refers to "those whose deepest cravings are after spiritual blessings."
Just as physical craving is urgent, and calls for instant gratification, there is a spiritual craving that is equally, if not more intense.
Jesus is declaring that those who feel an intense desire for righteousness will get it.
Romans 3:21-26 NKJV But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Now we know that this righteousness, which is right standing with God cannot be achieved in our own strength. God has imputed or assigned righteousness to us because we believe in Jesus Christ. We cannot improve upon this righteousness
We're not to hunger and thirst after happiness, but after righteousness. Blessed, or happy is the man who hungers and thirsts after righteousness. That person will be filled with the righteousness of God.
So Jesus was actually asking, “How much do you want righteousness? As much as a hungry person wants food? As much as a thirsty person wants water?”. If you do Jesus said that you will be blessed, or happy. But why will you be happy?
Matthew 5:1-12 ESV Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Text:
Matthew 5:6 ESV "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Introduction
This is the fourth in our series The Way To Happiness. In the series we’ve been looking at the Beatitudes, which we just read and which means extreme blessing or happiness. You will remember that the Beatitudes are part of a sermon that Jesus gave to his followers early in His earthly ministry. The Sermon on the Mount is a declaration of the kingdom of God and declares what the followers of Jesus, the people of the kingdom, are through the grace of God working in our lives. That entire sermon is in Matthew 5-7.
The first thing that Jesus said would bring happiness is humility
Matthew 5:3 ESV "Blessed are the poor in spirit (or humble), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Then he said that Sorrow is the way to Happiness.
Matthew 5:4 ESV "Blessed are those who mourn (or who are sorrowful), for they shall be comforted.
Last week we talked about meekness leading to happiness.
Matthew 5:5 ESV "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Next Jesus said, and here’s our text for today,
Matthew 5:6 ESV "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
No two people are exactly alike. They never have been and never will be. Even identical twins aren’t exactly alike. We are different from one another in so many ways. We have different fingerprints; eye, hair, and skin colors; heritage; intelligence levels; and personalities, not to mention height and weight.
However we are all alike in that in that we all get hungry and thirsty. Jesus, as in his usual way of simplifying something complicated, used this common demonstration, of hunger and thirst, to express the truth of the fourth way to happiness, which is that those who hunger and thirst after righteousness will be satisfied.
It is a little strange that someone who is hungry and/or thirsty can be happy, but Jesus explained that the right kind of hunger and thirst leads to happiness.
Notice that the first three Beatitudes we talked about were an emptying process. They are descriptions of humility;
Matthew 5:3 ESV "Blessed are the poor in spirit (or humble), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Mourning or sorrow over our sin;
Matthew 5:4 ESV "Blessed are those who mourn (or who are sorrowful), for they shall be comforted.
Meekly accepting criticism without retaliation or defensiveness
Matthew 5:5 ESV "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Now we come to seek for an answer to our emptiness. In the Greek this verse denotes one of desiring, not just a portion but all of the righteousness of God. Righteousness cannot be achieved in our own strength; it is a standing before God. God has imputed to us righteousness because we believe in Jesus Christ There are two types of righteousness
(1) Of the law, which at its best leads to self-righteousness which results in judging others.
(2) Righteousness given by God through believing in Jesus Christ This is the righteousness of Christ.
We cannot improve upon this righteousness, and it leads to gratefulness. Righteousness is being right with God and our fellow man. We're not to hunger and thirst after happiness, but after righteousness. Blessed is the man, not who is righteous, but who hungers and thirsts after righteousness.
Matthew 5:6 ESV "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
In the Greek this verse indicates a desire of, not just a portion but all of the righteousness of God.
As hunger and thirst are the most highly developed of our natural appetites, this hunger and thirst refers to "those whose deepest cravings are after spiritual blessings."
Just as physical craving is urgent, and calls for instant gratification, there is a spiritual craving that is equally, if not more intense.
Jesus is declaring that those who feel an intense desire for righteousness will get it.
Romans 3:21-26 NKJV But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Now we know that this righteousness, which is right standing with God cannot be achieved in our own strength. God has imputed or assigned righteousness to us because we believe in Jesus Christ. We cannot improve upon this righteousness
We're not to hunger and thirst after happiness, but after righteousness. Blessed, or happy is the man who hungers and thirsts after righteousness. That person will be filled with the righteousness of God.
So Jesus was actually asking, “How much do you want righteousness? As much as a hungry person wants food? As much as a thirsty person wants water?”. If you do Jesus said that you will be blessed, or happy. But why will you be happy?
1. You will be blessed, or happy because of the things that hunger and thirst suggest.
Just what do the words hunger and thirst suggest? From one viewpoint, they suggest agony and pain. But Jesus looks on the bright side of hunger and thirst. These words suggest four positive things—life, health, growth, and enjoyment.
A. Life.
As soon as all babies enter this world, they hunger and thirst for one reason: they are alive and it's natural that they get hungry and thirsty! And as soon as you are born into God’s kingdom, you begin to hunger and thirst for righteousness.
1 Peter 2:2-3 ESV Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
If you have no hunger and thirst or you are not able to get nourishment your growth will be stunted and you will eventually die. Think for a moment about what happens if you are not hungry or thirsty for righteousness. You won't lose your salvation but you won't grow spiritually, in you relationship with God. But where there is hunger, an inner yearning for more, you can have the life Christ came to give. And His life always brings happiness!
B. Hunger and Thirst brings Health.
A Christian who insists on attending church every week, who looks forward to Bible study, and who always offers a helping hand to those in need has good spiritual health. A Christian who loves to worship with fellow believers, and who just can’t get enough of God will always receive a good report from the Great Physician on his or her spiritual checkup. Those who are spiritually healthy are happy.
C. Hunger and Thirst bring Growth.
To hunger and thirst for righteousness means to eat well spiritually. When we regularly feast on nourishment from God, we grow. As we grow, we hunger and thirst even more for the deeper, or meatier, things of God.
This is an example of a church that was satisfied with the basics only and not the deep things of God. They had settled for less than they could have in God.
1 Corinthians 3:1-2 NIV Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.
On the other hand I want is to be what it says in
Hebrews 6:1-2 ESV Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
D. Hunger and Thirst brings Enjoyment.
Eating is, something to be enjoyed and a healthy appetite is essential to enjoying a meal. We are going to experience that in a few minutes. Those who hunger for righteousness enjoy feasting on God’s Word.
Matthew 4:4 ESV But he answered, "It is written, "'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"
They enjoy Christian worship, prayer, and fellowship.
Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
As they satisfy their appetites, they will experience happiness.
2.You will be blessed, or happy because of the lessons that hunger and thirst teach.
When you are hungry or thirsty, you can learn a number of things that you might never learn otherwise. If lost in a desert, you might learn to retrieve water from a cactus plant or find wild berries. Likewise, hunger and thirst for righteousness can teach us many lessons.
A. Things or stuff cannot fully satisfy
Do you remember the fairy tail about King Midas who had such a hunger for gold that he wished all he touched would turn into gold? One day his wish was granted. All he touched turned into gold—his furniture, dinnerware, clothing, everything! And it was all so wonderful until his little girl came running home. When he reached out to touch her, she also turned to gold. It was then that King Midas realized that things alone cannot fully satisfy.
As Jesus said, “Life does not consist in an abundance of possessions”
Luke 12:16-21 ESV And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' And he said, 'I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry."' But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God."
His point was that this man was a fool because he thought his security was in his possessions but that a better thing would have been to lay up treasures in heaven and not in things.
Luke 12:32-34 ESV "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
B Hunger and thirst teaches that God alone meets our total needs.
Psalms 42:1-2 ESV As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?
God has placed an insatiable hunger and thirst for him inside each of us. When Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us” ( John 14:8 NIV), he voiced a longing that is as old as humankind.
3. If you hunger and thirst after righteousness you will be happy because of the desires they create.
Just what is this “righteousness” for which we are to hunger and thirst? It is more than judicial justice or a rigid code of conduct. It is nothing less than goodness.
A The desire for personal goodness.
Paul said that he wanted to do what is good, but he could not carry it out.
Romans 7:18-20, 24-25 ESV For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.
24-25Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
Paul realized that he was not all he wanted to be. But we can know that if we desire personal goodness, our heavenly Father will give us the power we need.
Galatians 5:19-23 ESV Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
I am glad Jesus did not say that only those who are righteous would be blessed. Instead, he said that those who hunger and thirst (desire) to be righteous are blessed. When the desire for personal goodness drives us, happiness becomes a reality!
B. This hunger and thirst gives us The desire to do good to others.
Micah 6:8 ESV He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
When we have a sincere desire to do good to others, we become generous in the way we talk to and treat others. We go the second mile for others. Doing good to others is a very happy way to live.
C. This hunger and thirst give us The desire to know God.
Luke 18:18-19 ESV And a ruler asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.
Some desires degrade or, when satisfied, destroy. But the desire to know God edifies and establishes happiness. No one is happier than those who hunger and thirst to know God more and who satisfy that hunger daily by reading God’s Word, praying, and serving him.
4. If you hunger and thirst after righteousness you will be happy because of the satisfaction you get.
Jesus promised that those who hunger and thirst after righteousness “shall be filled,” or satisfied. But what satisfaction does this hunger and thirst bring?
A. The satisfaction of experiencing goodness in this life.
It’s as simple as this;
Psalms 23:1-6 ESV The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
B. Then we have the satisfaction of entering into complete goodness in the life to come.
Hebrews 4:3 ESV For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, "As I swore in my wrath, 'They shall not enter my rest,'" although his works were finished from the foundation of the world.
Revelation 21:1-4 ESV Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."
Those who hunger will eat, and those who thirst will drink. Both will be satisfied. This promise is without qualification.
Conclusion
Let us consider with what regularity and perseverance and strong urges we pursue food and drink day after day. And let us make it our prayer that we will hunger and thirst in that same way to establish righteousness — in our own souls and in all our relationships and in our land and in the world.
Do you hunger and thirst for more than this world offers? Jesus said,
John 7:37-38 ESV On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'"
Are you hungry and thirsty? There is room for you at his banquet table today.
Just what do the words hunger and thirst suggest? From one viewpoint, they suggest agony and pain. But Jesus looks on the bright side of hunger and thirst. These words suggest four positive things—life, health, growth, and enjoyment.
A. Life.
As soon as all babies enter this world, they hunger and thirst for one reason: they are alive and it's natural that they get hungry and thirsty! And as soon as you are born into God’s kingdom, you begin to hunger and thirst for righteousness.
1 Peter 2:2-3 ESV Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
If you have no hunger and thirst or you are not able to get nourishment your growth will be stunted and you will eventually die. Think for a moment about what happens if you are not hungry or thirsty for righteousness. You won't lose your salvation but you won't grow spiritually, in you relationship with God. But where there is hunger, an inner yearning for more, you can have the life Christ came to give. And His life always brings happiness!
B. Hunger and Thirst brings Health.
A Christian who insists on attending church every week, who looks forward to Bible study, and who always offers a helping hand to those in need has good spiritual health. A Christian who loves to worship with fellow believers, and who just can’t get enough of God will always receive a good report from the Great Physician on his or her spiritual checkup. Those who are spiritually healthy are happy.
C. Hunger and Thirst bring Growth.
To hunger and thirst for righteousness means to eat well spiritually. When we regularly feast on nourishment from God, we grow. As we grow, we hunger and thirst even more for the deeper, or meatier, things of God.
This is an example of a church that was satisfied with the basics only and not the deep things of God. They had settled for less than they could have in God.
1 Corinthians 3:1-2 NIV Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.
On the other hand I want is to be what it says in
Hebrews 6:1-2 ESV Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
D. Hunger and Thirst brings Enjoyment.
Eating is, something to be enjoyed and a healthy appetite is essential to enjoying a meal. We are going to experience that in a few minutes. Those who hunger for righteousness enjoy feasting on God’s Word.
Matthew 4:4 ESV But he answered, "It is written, "'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"
They enjoy Christian worship, prayer, and fellowship.
Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
As they satisfy their appetites, they will experience happiness.
2.You will be blessed, or happy because of the lessons that hunger and thirst teach.
When you are hungry or thirsty, you can learn a number of things that you might never learn otherwise. If lost in a desert, you might learn to retrieve water from a cactus plant or find wild berries. Likewise, hunger and thirst for righteousness can teach us many lessons.
A. Things or stuff cannot fully satisfy
Do you remember the fairy tail about King Midas who had such a hunger for gold that he wished all he touched would turn into gold? One day his wish was granted. All he touched turned into gold—his furniture, dinnerware, clothing, everything! And it was all so wonderful until his little girl came running home. When he reached out to touch her, she also turned to gold. It was then that King Midas realized that things alone cannot fully satisfy.
As Jesus said, “Life does not consist in an abundance of possessions”
Luke 12:16-21 ESV And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' And he said, 'I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry."' But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God."
His point was that this man was a fool because he thought his security was in his possessions but that a better thing would have been to lay up treasures in heaven and not in things.
Luke 12:32-34 ESV "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
B Hunger and thirst teaches that God alone meets our total needs.
Psalms 42:1-2 ESV As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?
God has placed an insatiable hunger and thirst for him inside each of us. When Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us” ( John 14:8 NIV), he voiced a longing that is as old as humankind.
3. If you hunger and thirst after righteousness you will be happy because of the desires they create.
Just what is this “righteousness” for which we are to hunger and thirst? It is more than judicial justice or a rigid code of conduct. It is nothing less than goodness.
A The desire for personal goodness.
Paul said that he wanted to do what is good, but he could not carry it out.
Romans 7:18-20, 24-25 ESV For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.
24-25Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
Paul realized that he was not all he wanted to be. But we can know that if we desire personal goodness, our heavenly Father will give us the power we need.
Galatians 5:19-23 ESV Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
I am glad Jesus did not say that only those who are righteous would be blessed. Instead, he said that those who hunger and thirst (desire) to be righteous are blessed. When the desire for personal goodness drives us, happiness becomes a reality!
B. This hunger and thirst gives us The desire to do good to others.
Micah 6:8 ESV He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
When we have a sincere desire to do good to others, we become generous in the way we talk to and treat others. We go the second mile for others. Doing good to others is a very happy way to live.
C. This hunger and thirst give us The desire to know God.
Luke 18:18-19 ESV And a ruler asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.
Some desires degrade or, when satisfied, destroy. But the desire to know God edifies and establishes happiness. No one is happier than those who hunger and thirst to know God more and who satisfy that hunger daily by reading God’s Word, praying, and serving him.
4. If you hunger and thirst after righteousness you will be happy because of the satisfaction you get.
Jesus promised that those who hunger and thirst after righteousness “shall be filled,” or satisfied. But what satisfaction does this hunger and thirst bring?
A. The satisfaction of experiencing goodness in this life.
It’s as simple as this;
Psalms 23:1-6 ESV The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
B. Then we have the satisfaction of entering into complete goodness in the life to come.
Hebrews 4:3 ESV For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, "As I swore in my wrath, 'They shall not enter my rest,'" although his works were finished from the foundation of the world.
Revelation 21:1-4 ESV Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."
Those who hunger will eat, and those who thirst will drink. Both will be satisfied. This promise is without qualification.
Conclusion
Let us consider with what regularity and perseverance and strong urges we pursue food and drink day after day. And let us make it our prayer that we will hunger and thirst in that same way to establish righteousness — in our own souls and in all our relationships and in our land and in the world.
Do you hunger and thirst for more than this world offers? Jesus said,
John 7:37-38 ESV On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'"
Are you hungry and thirsty? There is room for you at his banquet table today.
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