What Are You Hungry For?

We all hunger for something, it’s human nature.

For some, it’s the perfect relationship, for others, fame, fortune or respect and admiration. There are countless desires of the human heart but I can be pretty certain, all of them involve having the respect, admiration or financial benefits of being “top dog” in something. But what would you give up to achieve that desire? Because in this world, we must give up something if we are to achieve something.

As we know, Adam and Eve gave up living with the Lord in the Garden of Eden- paradise on earth- for an apple. They had no idea that their choice would lead to far reaching consequences. Not only did their choice to ignore God make their life harder, it radically altered the lives of all future generations.

And you know what? We do the same thing when we rationalize the decisions we make. Our choices change future generations; sometimes for good and oftentimes for bad.

Humans fail every day without guidance from God. And what many don’t realize, is that we can have it all with God.
“He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?(Romans 8:32)

Ignoring Scripture Harms Us

Until we take the Bible as the most important book of all time and the most important way to spend our time, we will miss out on the best path for our life and countless blessings. You see, God promises His believers and followers many things, but we cannot know what they are or ask for them unless we search His Holy Book.

Some of you may know the fable of a man who died and went to heaven and the Lord took him to a room filled with precious gifts, expertly wrapped waiting to be opened. The man said to the Lord, “What are these?” The Lord answered him and said “These are the blessings I had for you, but you never asked me for them and therefore I couldn’t give them to you.”

Now to set the record straight, we all have received many blessings without asking for them. You and I could fill a gratitude journal with countless wonderful things the Lord has bestowed upon us. But the presents in this fable represent the promised blessings we must ask for. And how can we ask for a blessing if we don’t know we are privy to it and we don’t have faith to believe we can receive it?

The only way we will have faith enough to ask for something, is if we get soaked in the Word of God.

“Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.” (Romans 10:17)

This verse means that we receive faith by reading, hearing and meditating on the Words of our Lord. Once they enter our minds and we open our heart to receive to them, our faith grows. Therefore, faith is not of our strength- we can’t conjure it up-it simply comes by soaking in Scripture.

The Church Is Weak

The church, otherwise known as the congregation of believers, is weak! We live on “scraps” when God desires to give us all things.

There is a story in the Bible of the Syrophoenician woman. She had an ill daughter and knew the Lord Jesus could heal her. After she humbled herself bowing down before Jesus, she asked Him for help. “Lord help me she said” and Jesus answered her and said “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs”. And she answered and said, “Yes Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus said to her, “O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish. And her daughter was healed at once.” (Matt 15:24-28)

This story shows us a woman who had a deep desire for her daughter to be healed. This woman knew she wasn’t Jewish thus had no birthright blessings at this point in Jesus’ ministry. He was teaching and blessing the Jewish people first and later her people- the Gentiles would be included. But she equated herself to a pet of a Jewish family and asked for a crumb of His blessing. She was rewarded because of her humility, faith and knowledge of Jesus’ power.

“Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.”(John 16:24)

The Story Of Jacob And Esau Warns Us

The story of Jacob and Esau in the Old Testament, is a warning for us to learn what Jesus won for us at the cross and take our position as Christians seriously.

Jacob and Esau were brothers. Esau was the oldest who made the grave mistake of minimizing his birthright blessing. He was due a hefty blessing from his father but he missed out. His uncontrolled appetite made him not desirous of even a crumb of his inheritance/ blessing. He traded it for a bowl of stew because he was starving after a long hunting expedition.

…when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted. And Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am starving!”

Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright now.”

Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?”

Jacob said, “Swear to me now.” So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob.(Genesis 25:29-33)

Later, Jacob stood before his father Isaac (who was blind) and tricked him into believing he was Esau, the firstborn son who was worthy to have the birthright blessing…

“May God give you heaven’s dew and earth’s richness— an abundance of grain and new wine. May nations serve you and peoples bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed and those who bless you be blessed.”(Genesis 27:28-29)

When Esau learned that his birthright blessing was indeed given to Jacob, he cried bitterly. And this is where you and I can learn a great lesson from Esau.

Will our appetites for the pleasures of this world entice us so much that we miss out on the greater blessings in life that require humility rather than admiration, patience rather than immediate gratification and transfer of control to God rather than being “top dog” in our life?

This world can only supply us with temporary pleasures, things that pass quickly and then another “fix” is necessary to satisfy our appetite. And those of us who part from God’s wisdom and favor, faith and a good conscious, for the honors, wealth and the pleasures of this world, will judge ourselves unworthy of God’s best. You see, Jesus did all He could ever do for us. It is up to us to learn, believe and thus judge ourselves worthy enough to receive His incredible inheritance of blessings for the here and now.

Esau, in selling his birthright, only received common blessings – blessings the Lord gives all people who work hard. But when we choose to follow the straight and narrow path the Lord shows us, forgoing the ways of this world, we will be blessed with things money can AND cannot buy. Things like increased understanding of Scripture, hearing God clearly, peace and powerful prayers.

So I ask myself and all of my readers- what exactly are we hungry for? Is it so appetizing that we’re willing to pass up on a powerful prayer life- a position which pulls all good things down from heaven?

I don’t want to lose out on one more blessing, I choose to eat from the Tree of Life- the Holy Bible.

Food For Thought,

Lisa

This is a link to my favorite Bible with excellent teaching points. click here