Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6
This is one of the most important verses in the Sermon on the Mount. Without this intense desire for righteousness, a person will not pursue a deeper relationship with God or try to develop the rest of the character traits Jesus describes. The foundational requirement for all Godly living as to “hunger and thirst for righteousness”. Such hunger is seen in Moses, the psalm writer and the great missionary, Paul. The spiritual condition of Christians all throughout their lives will depend on their hunger and thirst for the presence of God, the Word of God, the interaction and friendship of Christ, the companionship , guidance and influence of the Holy Spirit, righteousness, God’s power and the return of Christ.
The Christians hunger for God and their purposes are hindered-even destroyed-by the worries of life, deceitfulness of wealth, desire for temporal things, lust for life’s pleasures and failure to trust Christ and remain in a right relationship with him. When a Christian loses their hunger for God and his standards, they will begin to die spiritually. For this reason, it is essential that we be sensitive and responsive to the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives and consciences, keeping us away from evil and drawing us closer to God.