“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. – Matthew 5:3-6 NKJV

What does it mean to be filled or satisfied?

Solomon was a man who had all the world could offer but it was not enough to satisfy him. From his life we learn:

To increase knowledge only increases sorrow. – Ecclesiastes 1:18 NLT

Solomon ordered his workers to build whatever he wanted in Jerusalem, Lebanon, and anywhere else in his kingdom. – 2 Chronicles 8:6 CEV

Anything I wanted, I would take. I denied myself no pleasure. I even found great pleasure in hard work, a reward for all my labors.But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere. – Ecclesiastes 2:10,11 NLT

Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness! – Ecclesiastes 5:10 NLT

That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad. – Ecclesiastes 12:13,14 NLT

What is the righteousness we should hunger for?

• We hunger for the right path in a broken world.
In the way of righteousness is life, and in its pathway there is no death. – Proverbs 12:28 NKJV

• We hunger for God since He is righteous.
• Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God, you who have done great things. Who, O God, is like you? - Psalm 71:19 NIV

• God is never wrong. He has never made a wrong decision, had a wrong attitude, said the wrong thing, taken something the wrong way, been too fast, too slow, too early, or too late. He is always right. He is righteous.

• We hunger for a right standing or relationship with God
• For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. – Romans 5:17 – NKJV
• But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, - Titus 3:5,6 NKJV We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. - Romans 3:22 NLT

What does it take to have a healthy spiritual appetite?

1. Understand the power of good food.

• Often, we don’t have a good diet because we don’t understand the amazing design of nutritious food for our body. Likewise, we need to understand how much God loves us and His design for spiritual food.
• And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. - Ephesians 3:18-19 NLT

2. Have a healthy meal plan.

• As much as we have a plan for healthy eating free from junk food to fuel our lifestyle, so we should have a spiritual meal plan.
• Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance. – Isaiah 55:2 NKJV
• An intelligent person is always eager to take in more truth; fools feed on fast-food fads and fancies. – Proverbs 15:14 MSG

3. Track your intake.

• When we track and analyze our diet, we can identify where we went wrong. We need about 2000 calories/day for food. Let’s say we need 2000 spiritual calories/day or 14,000/week. Where do we get these from?
• Give us today our daily bread. – Matthew 6:11 NKJV
• Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. – John 6:35 NLT
• Be like newborn babies who are thirsty for the pure spiritual milk that will help you grow and be saved. – 1 Peter 2:2 CEV

4. Sharpen your cooking skills.

• We tend to eat more processed foods because we are too lazy to cook and clean up. Likewise, spiritually we may look for a quick fix instead of studying, memorizing, and digging deep into God’s word for ourselves.
• All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. – 2 Timothy 3:16 NKJV
• I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. – Psalm 119:11 NIV

5. Stay accountable to others.

• Just as learn to from others how to prepare food and we can enjoy cooking together, so we need others to help us in our spiritual journey.
• So follow the steps of the good and stay on the paths of the righteous. – Proverbs 2:20 NLT