Hunger
We
tend to associate hunger with images on the TV screen: gaunt, sickly-looking
children who live very far away. In our prosperous nations, we get distracted
with healthy appearances and often overlook another, more hidden, hunger:
spiritual starvation for God. Apart from God, we try to fill our hunger
with material things: relationships, careers, entertainment. Like food,
God is necessary for our bodies and minds, and only he can satisfy what
we need. We cannot live apart from him; in fact, God calls those who hunger
after him "blessed" (Matthew 5:6).
In telling others about how to fill this spiritual hunger, our words are
meaningless unless we make an effort to demonstrate God's love in a tangible
way. If someone––even our enemy––needs food, we
should find a way to feed him or her. When we take care of a needy person,
it is the same as taking care of Jesus Christ.
God
takes care of our needs, including our physical hunger.
1 Samuel 2:5
Nehemiah 9:15
Psalm 17:14; 107:5-9
Proverbs 10:3; 13:25
Isaiah 49:10
Luke 1:53; 6:21
Jesus Christ promises us that those who hunger for righteousness
and serve God faithfully will be filled. Only God can truly satisfy our
inward hunger.
Matthew 5:6
John 6:35
Revelation 7:16
Jesus Christ knows what it's like to be hungry.
Matthew 4:2
As God's children, we have a responsibility to share food with
others when they're hungry.
Proverbs 25:21
Isaiah 58:6-10
Ezekiel 18:5-7
Matthew 25:34-46
Romans 12:17-20 |