Hungry for Righteousness: The Path to Satisfaction
Summary
In our journey through the Beatitudes, we pause today to reflect on the profound truth found in Matthew 5:6: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." This Beatitude reveals that the mark of a true Christian is not self-righteousness but a deep longing to be more righteous. Jesus emphasizes that the blessed are not those who believe they have achieved righteousness but those who recognize their need for it. This desire for righteousness is evidence of the Spirit of God within us, and it is this very desire that Jesus blesses.
In our complex world, filled with ethical dilemmas and challenges, the hope for righteousness lies in individuals who genuinely hunger and thirst for it. Imagine the transformative impact if people in every profession pursued righteousness not out of obligation but from a heartfelt desire to honor God and serve others. This is the only hope for true righteousness in our world.
To cultivate this hunger and thirst for righteousness, we must be intentional. Hunger is natural, but appetite can be cultivated. Just as a change in diet can alter physical appetites, so too can spiritual practices shape our spiritual appetites. We can train ourselves in godliness, as Paul advises Timothy, by engaging in practices that foster a deeper longing for righteousness.
Practical strategies include fasting from legitimate pleasures to regain control over our appetites, making ourselves vulnerable to the needs of others to stimulate spiritual hunger, and using both blessings and troubles as incentives to feed on Christ. Trusting Christ in our sanctification is crucial, as hope is essential for change. We must believe that Christ's work in us will not end in failure but will lead to our ultimate satisfaction in Him.
Key Takeaways:
- True righteousness is not about feeling righteous but about longing for it. This longing is a sign of the Spirit's work in us, and it is this desire that Jesus blesses. [02:08]
- In a world filled with ethical complexities, the hope for righteousness lies in individuals who genuinely desire it. This desire can transform professions and communities. [05:29]
- Cultivating a hunger for righteousness involves intentional practices, such as fasting from legitimate pleasures and engaging in spiritual exercises that stimulate our appetite for God. [19:26]
- Use life's blessings and troubles as opportunities to feed on Christ. Both can serve as incentives to deepen our relationship with Him and increase our spiritual hunger. [31:52]
- Trust Christ not only for forgiveness and future glorification but also for present sanctification. Hope in His work within us is essential for real change and growth. [36:44]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:21] - Series Overview
[00:36] - The Fourth Beatitude
[01:07] - The Blessed Long for Righteousness
[02:39] - Application to Our Lives
[05:13] - Hope for Righteousness in the World
[07:00] - Cultivating Hunger for Righteousness
[08:04] - Change in Diet, Change in Appetite
[11:01] - Diet Shapes Appetite
[13:15] - The Impact of Appetites
[15:07] - Legitimate Pleasures and Spiritual Growth
[18:00] - Fasting from Legitimate Pleasures
[23:03] - Serving Others to Stimulate Appetite
[27:32] - Using Life's Experiences to Feed on Christ
[32:11] - Trusting Christ for Sanctification
[37:19] - The Promise of Satisfaction
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Matthew 5:6
- 1 Timothy 4:7-8
- 1 Corinthians 1:30
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Observation Questions:
1. What does Matthew 5:6 reveal about the nature of those who are blessed according to Jesus? How does this differ from self-righteousness? [00:36]
2. In the sermon, what professions were mentioned as examples of where ethical dilemmas often arise? How does the desire for righteousness impact these professions? [02:53]
3. What analogy is used in the sermon to explain how spiritual appetites can be cultivated? How does this relate to physical appetites? [11:01]
4. What are some practical strategies mentioned in the sermon for cultivating a hunger and thirst for righteousness? [15:57]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the desire for righteousness serve as evidence of the Spirit's work within a believer, according to the sermon? [02:08]
2. In what ways can the ethical complexities of modern professions be transformed by individuals who genuinely hunger and thirst for righteousness? [05:29]
3. How does the concept of fasting from legitimate pleasures help in regaining control over one's spiritual appetites? What might this look like in practice? [19:26]
4. How can life's blessings and troubles be used as opportunities to deepen one's relationship with Christ and increase spiritual hunger? [31:52]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life. Do you find yourself longing for righteousness, or do you feel self-satisfied in your spiritual journey? How can you cultivate a deeper hunger for righteousness? [02:08]
2. Consider your profession or daily environment. How can you intentionally pursue righteousness in your actions and decisions, not just out of obligation but from a heartfelt desire to honor God? [05:29]
3. Identify a legitimate pleasure in your life that might be dulling your spiritual hunger. How can you practice fasting from this pleasure to cultivate a stronger appetite for God? [19:26]
4. Think of a recent blessing or trouble in your life. How can you use this experience as an incentive to feed on Christ and grow in your spiritual journey? [31:52]
5. Trusting Christ for sanctification involves believing in His work within us for real change. What areas of your life do you struggle to trust Christ with, and how can you begin to trust Him more in these areas? [36:44]
6. How can you make yourself more vulnerable to the needs of others in your community? What steps can you take to serve others and stimulate your spiritual appetite? [23:03]
7. Reflect on the analogy of changing one's diet to change appetite. What spiritual "diet" changes can you make to cultivate a greater hunger for righteousness in your life? [11:01]
Devotional
Day 1: Longing for Righteousness, Not Self-Righteousness
True righteousness is not about feeling righteous but about longing for it. This longing is a sign of the Spirit's work in us, and it is this desire that Jesus blesses. The Beatitude in Matthew 5:6 highlights that the blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, not those who believe they have already achieved it. This longing is a profound acknowledgment of our need for God's righteousness, which is far beyond our own efforts. It is a recognition that our spiritual journey is ongoing and that we are dependent on the Spirit's work within us to cultivate this desire. [02:08]
"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." (Romans 14:17, ESV)
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you find yourself striving for self-righteousness instead of longing for God's righteousness? How can you shift your focus today to seek His righteousness?
Day 2: Transformative Desire for Righteousness
In a world filled with ethical complexities, the hope for righteousness lies in individuals who genuinely desire it. This desire can transform professions and communities. When people in various fields pursue righteousness not out of obligation but from a heartfelt desire to honor God and serve others, the impact can be transformative. This Beatitude calls us to imagine a world where righteousness is sought after with genuine passion, leading to profound changes in how we live and work. [05:29]
"Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16, ESV)
Reflection: Consider your profession or community. How can your desire for righteousness influence and transform the environment around you today?
Day 3: Cultivating Spiritual Hunger
Cultivating a hunger for righteousness involves intentional practices, such as fasting from legitimate pleasures and engaging in spiritual exercises that stimulate our appetite for God. Just as physical appetites can be shaped by our diet, our spiritual appetites can be cultivated through deliberate actions. By fasting from certain pleasures, we regain control over our desires and create space for a deeper longing for God. Engaging in spiritual disciplines helps us train ourselves in godliness, fostering a greater hunger for righteousness. [19:26]
"Train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come." (1 Timothy 4:7-8, ESV)
Reflection: What is one legitimate pleasure you can fast from this week to cultivate a deeper hunger for God? How will you use this time to engage in spiritual practices?
Day 4: Using Life's Experiences to Deepen Faith
Use life's blessings and troubles as opportunities to feed on Christ. Both can serve as incentives to deepen our relationship with Him and increase our spiritual hunger. Life's experiences, whether joyful or challenging, are opportunities to draw closer to Christ. By viewing blessings as gifts to be thankful for and troubles as moments to rely on His strength, we can use these experiences to deepen our faith and increase our spiritual appetite. [31:52]
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." (James 1:2-3, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on a recent blessing or challenge in your life. How can you use this experience to deepen your relationship with Christ today?
Day 5: Trusting Christ for Present Sanctification
Trust Christ not only for forgiveness and future glorification but also for present sanctification. Hope in His work within us is essential for real change and growth. Our journey of faith involves trusting Christ for our ongoing sanctification, believing that His work in us will lead to our ultimate satisfaction in Him. This trust is crucial for experiencing real change and growth in our spiritual lives. By placing our hope in His transformative power, we can be confident that He will complete the work He has begun in us. [36:44]
"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 1:6, ESV)
Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to trust Christ for present sanctification? How can you actively place your hope in His work within you today?
Quotes
We saw last time that the mark of a true Christian is not that he or she feels that they are righteous, but that the true Christian longs to be more righteous than he or she is. When it comes to righteousness, Jesus says, and this is very wonderful, that the Blessed people are not those who think they have it but those who feel their need of it. [00:54:00]
The person who is blessed, we've already seen through these Beatitudes, has already learned what it is to be poor in spirit, realizing that I do not have what it takes before God at my very best. Therefore, I mourn over my sins, I become submissive to the will of God, and out of that, we saw God births a great hunger and thirst for righteousness. [00:76:00]
In every area of life, there are people who need to be restrained lest they exploit others. What do we have? Regulation. In every sphere of life, more and more regulations to stop the exploitation of others. So you live in worlds of endless documents and processes and procedures to be followed. Why? Because people can't be trusted, and so they need somehow to be restrained. [04:39:79]
The only hope for righteousness is that some people will actually want it, that they'll hunger and thirst for it, that they'll choose it not simply because they're complying with regulation but because out of their heart there is a desire for what is best and for what is good and for what is right. That's the only hope of righteousness ultimately in the world in which you are working and in which you are living. [05:27:16]
Hunger is natural, but appetite can be cultivated. That's good, isn't it? Hunger is natural, but appetite can be cultivated, and appetite can and should be cultivated. You can learn to like and enjoy things that at one time you did not have a taste for, and that is why Paul says to Timothy, train yourself in godliness. [07:51:99]
The change in diet led to a change in appetite, and he said that change in what I wanted to eat began after about just two months. Now you realize that we're using this as an analogy. This is not a nutrition class that you've come to; it is a Christian worship service. But Jesus is using an analogy. [10:44:00]
Diet shapes appetite over time. This is a fundamental principle. You will want more of whatever you feed yourself, so be very careful what you feed yourself. Choose your diet carefully. Now let's try and apply this a little bit further. Let's think about a young person who is really into computer games. [12:71:99]
Legitimate pleasures at the wrong time and in the wrong amount will spoil your appetite. They'll spoil your appetite for holiness. Legitimate pleasures in the wrong place and in the wrong amount will dull your own spiritual hunger and your own spiritual thirst, leaving you like a sort of couch potato as it were, spiritually and perhaps physically as well. [19:48:91]
Make yourself vulnerable to the needs of others. Paul says to Timothy, train yourself for godliness. Now again, we're thinking here about the analogy of the body, and we're asking the question as we think of the physical realm that Jesus points us to in his analogy, how do you work up an appetite? [23:83:03]
Use your blessings and your troubles as incentives to feed on Jesus Christ. Isn't that a beautiful phrase, by the way, that Christ uses in the gospel when he says, I'm the bread of life, and then he says, this is the bread that came down from heaven, and whoever feeds on this bread will live forever. [27:68:72]
Trust Christ, especially in relation to your sanctification, which if you want that in simpler terms means becoming a better person, a better Christian, a more useful Christian, a more loving, forgiving, and kind Christian, a more Christlike Christian. Trust Jesus Christ, especially in relation to this growth in your Christian life. [32:31:48]
Here's the hope: blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness. Why? Because they shall be satisfied. Christ's work in your life is not going to end in a failure. Why is there hope? Because John puts it this way: when you see Christ, you will be like him, and you have already trusted Christ for this if you are a Christian. [35:28:00]
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