Hunger and thirst. What does this mean to our physical bodies? The two most urgent needs of the body are used as an example to satisfy the cravings of our spiritual life.

Matthew 5:6
Bless are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled.

Hunger and thirst are different, but they are both required to live. A lack in either results in malnourishment, serious illness, and even death.

Why is hungering and thirsting such a good illustration? Because as water and food is to the body, so righteousness is to the spiritual life. Throughout life, we search all kinds of ways to be filled or satisfied, but we always end up falling short.

All of us are hungry and thirsty; the problem is that we try to fill that emptiness and hunger with things other than the righteousness of God. Some of you reading this are feeling empty. You are trying to fill that spiritual void in your life. In fact, it was a God-shaped void, to bring you to your first love, Jesus; but we are spending our money on things that do not satisfy. We try to satisfy ourselves with money, power, education, intimacy, boyfriends, girlfriends, and earthly possessions that allow us fun and entertainment for a time, but yet all these things lead to a deeper void and a deeper longing for satisfaction. 

To be hungry is not enough. We need to be starving after righteousness. What is righteousness? Simply a desire to know JESUS. If we recognize our severe lack can only be fulfilled through JESUS, then maybe we won’t become so easily pleased (or distracted) with temporary fulfillment.