DESIRE FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS

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

In his message to the multitudes, Jesus uses the most basic and most critical of all needs, hunger and thirst.  While we tend to think of these in terms of food and water, Jesus is using hunger and thirst as meaning to be desperate for righteousness. The described seeker of righteousness does not hunger for wealth but would prefer being poor and righteous than being rich through evil. The seeker does not hunger for health but while wishing to have that great blessing, would rather be sick and have righteousness over enjoying good health and unrighteous.  The described seeker hungers and thirsts to be what God desires.  This hunger and thirst is an innate yearning to which all humans of this world are born – to be in close relationship with God.  Many people seek to fill that yearning with things of this world but are never satisfied.  The ones who do vigorously seek righteousness in a manner where life depends on it will be satisfied, filled, joyful and happy.  The fruits of the Spirit will bear out these characteristics in that person’s life.

For those of us who are Christ-followers, we know that we are sinners saved by grace.  As such, we also know that the ways of God are not the ways of the world.  In that respect, those that are not Christ-followers would likely look upon this (and other) beatitudes as being paradoxal.  Without being led by the Holy Spirit, it would likely not seem possible that people could view being hungry and/or thirsty as being blessed.  However, one hungering after righteousness should consider himself/herself as being happy because of being made knowledgeable about the right value of things. Before, that person may have set a high value upon worthless pleasure, reckoning that the praise of men to be the gold medal standard but now valuing righteousness above all else.  Gaining this right judgment through the Holy Spirit blesses the person and will continue to do so until Christ returns.