Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled
(Mt.5:6).
It is in the mouth of a starving man, woman or child,
that a single morsel of food means most. But in the mouths of those who have plenty, it is
not nearly enough to satisfy their appetites. When one is use to having three meals a day,
and those meals being what they choose, there is often little gratefulness seen in them.
Consider how many of us come away from dinner banquets or catered events and immediately
begin to criticize what food was served, or the portions thereof. But to go to a banquet
and be presented with a single morsel--what response would that evoke in most of us today?
But most of us need not worry of such circumstances--right? After all, most of us have
more food than we need and may end up giving our leftovers to the dog or perhaps putting
them down the garbage disposal. Most of are not so concerned with having food as we are
with how it tastes. It is seldom a question of need but of desire. We must admit that of
this life and the things here on earth, we are a people who are certainly filled. Sure, it
may not be everything we want, but it is more than what we need. Or is it?
One might begin to wonder, "How can anyone who is full possibly have room for one
more bite, or one more morsel?" If we are so full of so many things, the morsel loses
its value to us. In fact, it is even looked upon as worthless or insignificant. And if
that morsel be something that one has never tried, isn't it easier to refuse it in favor
of something we already know we like--something our mouth is watering for?
David cries out, "Taste of the Lord, and see that He is good." While a world who
does not see their own need replies, "No thanks, I'm quite satisfied," "I'm
full," "May I be excused?"
Our mouths water for this world and the pleasures of it. We deny ourselves nothing that
fits within our church and social norms, and perhaps do not even realize how we have taken
our fill of this life without crossing our predefined doctrinal lines. But scripture
continually shows that in order to be filled, one must first become empty. One must become
empty of self, of this life and of the pleasures of this age. For it is not until we are
spiritually poor that we will ever see our need, it is not until we refuse the meat of
this world that we will once again crave the morsels of the Bread of Life, the Living Word
of God.
Proverbs 20:17 tells us that the "Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards
his mouth shall be filled with gravel." This world offers us bread that is deceiving,
for though it looks filling it leaves us in want, and though it looks nourishing it leaves
us weak. It looks so wonderful that it makes the morsels of God seem insignificant, to
those whom have never or seldom tasted of the Lord.
And shame to us, the "bread sellers," if we think we have to add to the Bread of
Life to make it more pleasing to the eye--if we think we must add sweet jam or colorful
bread wrappers to make the Bread more attractive. The Bread of Life is not something to be
dressed as to compete with the bread of this age--It surpassed it on Its own and does not
need our help to make it more tasteful.
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness." What appeals to the
flesh is bread of deceit--it fills the mouth with gravel, and leaves the soul empty. It is
time we stop filling ourselves with the bread of this age, both at home and in our
churches, and start filling ourselves with the Morsels of the Living God. Blessed are
those who are empty of themselves, the flesh and the pleasures of this age--for they shall
be filled for now, and also for the age to come.
|
|
