05/23/2022
Do we find ourselves financially wealthy, or having many possessions, but despite all of this we are unhappy, or feel empty inside? Do we run at life, and do many wonderful things, but despite all of our efforts remain chained to a longing, or need we can’t explain or fill? These are the symptoms of a hungry soul. We feel this way when we fill our stomachs with food, and our days with nourishing things for our minds, but starve our souls to death. we go about feeding our bodies and minds, but only God can satisfy the longings, and the overwhelming hunger of our soul.
“For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.”
Psalm 107:9 ESV
There was a time in my life when I had all that most men would want in life; I had a wonderful wife, children, home, and career, and I thought that I had faith, but in reality I had satisfied my every earthly need, yet my faith was mainly window dressing, and although I consumed just enough spiritual food to keep me from starving to death, I lacked the nourishment needed to satisfy my soul. Does this sound familiar? Do you look in the mirror and see a soul dressed in fine clothes and surrounded by a prosperous life, and yet with a gaunt look? Are its cheek bones protruding, eyes sunken in, and do the fine clothes it wears hang loose on it, or reveal every rib? Are we living in the Promised Land, but neglecting to drink the milk, or eat the honey?
“My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?””
Psalm 42:2-3 ESV
We are not meant to have just enough in life, to have barely enough food to stay alive, or enough wealth to get by, no, we are meant to flourish, and to have an abundant life, but so many of us confuse the meaning of abundance, and think I am speaking about a worldly life today. They are smug in their day to day possessions, and fat in stature, but destitute in heavenly treasure, and starving for spiritual sustenance. Satan is like a thief, and starves us when he convinces us that living out satisfying earthly lives is our purpose and what we are judged by. Listen to what Jesus teaches…
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
John 10:10 ESV
Don’t get me wrong, it is good to work, and God will provide earthly wages for us, and our families, as we do so, but all of this is like a balloon that is meant to burst with our final breath, and is not meant to be our everlasting treasure; it is not our true and eternal life. Before all else we are told to seek the kingdom of God… then, and only then, will the earthly things we receive be from God, and not a false blessing, or a distraction and a stumbling block placed in our path by Satan.
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Matthew 6:33 ESV
Do we realize the lies that abound in this world, and see how they can take the form of abundant pleasure, and appear to be good, when in truth they are fleeting, and meant only to lure us away from what is truly good? Are our lives being made good by our faith, and belief in God?
“I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.””
Psalm 16:2 ESV
Our good in life is not of this world but of the spirit, and whether we have a mansion on earth, or sleep beneath a bridge; whether we dine with the rich in the finest restaurants, or eat as a beggar from a dumpster, our reward will be the same in Heaven, and our short earthly life will be cast aside for an eternal life of abundance that awaits us there. Here on earth we are meant to store up heavenly treasure, and it has nothing to do with our earthly wealth or position.
““Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. “Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.”
Luke 6:21 ESV
So, are we lacking no earthly thing but still have an empty place within us that cries out to be filled? Do we ignore God because we think we have obtained all we need in life by our own doing; by our own efforts… and yet, we are confused because we are still hungry? Is our body fat, but our spirit starving to death, and our soul’s storehouse empty?
Perhaps we are poor, and confuse our earthly hunger with what God truly wants to fill us with, the manna of His Word, and the gospel of Jesus Christ. Do we covet the lives of the wealthy, and neglect the true treasure of the righteous? Do we let anger regarding our desperate lives lead us away from God just as certainly as the wealth of the rich leads them astray?
“Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.””
John 6:32-34 ESV
What do we say today about our lives and how we live them? Is it time for a change?
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your Word, and the gospel of Jesus Christ, that fill the emptiness within us, and satisfy our hunger and thirst for you. Help us to be righteous in our ways, and to give to you what every man has to give, his love. Whether rich or poor let us love you with all our heart, soul, mind and strength; and if this world, let our earthly offering be commiserate with the gifts you have given us… a mite from the poor, and a fortune from the rich. Hear our prayers, and answer the desperate pleas of our souls as we call out for you to come. Hear the sounds of hunger in our souls, and feed us Lord. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who places us for a short while on the earth, but lifts us into eternity with you through our belief in Jesus Christ. Praised be your name for every morsel of manna, your Holy Word, that you feed us, and praise you Lord for each sip of living water we drink from the cup, and gospel, of Jesus. Merciful are you who makes this earthly life short, and our Heavenly life eternal. Great is your grace that flows from Christ, and reveals to us that we are saved by this gift from you, and not by our lame and meager efforts. Wash us clean in the blood of Christ, and remove the scales from our eyes so that we can see the truth in life, and our living. Judge us worthy in Jesus on our day of judgement, and reveal to us the bounty we have amassed in Heaven. Let the poor who lived out their faith be made wealthy, and the wealthy be apportioned according to the lives they lived for you. Seat us before you, and let every man, woman, and child, experience your goodness, joy, peace, and love, forevermore.
“The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
Psalm 16:5-6, 11 ESV
Rich Forbes