Everyday Lessons from a Powerful Teaching
If you take a close look at the world today—scrolling through news headlines, watching what’s trending online, or just listening to people around you—one thing stands out: there’s a lot of talk about what’s wrong and what needs fixing. People are searching for fairness, kindness, and honesty in a world that can sometimes feel confusing or unfair.
So what does it mean, in simple terms, when Jesus says we should “hunger and thirst for righteousness”? And why does it matter today?
The Heart of the Matter: Not Just Wanting, But Needing
When Jesus used the words “hunger” and “thirst,” he was talking about basic needs we can’t ignore. We all know the feeling of being hungry after missing a meal or thirsty on a hot day—it gets our full attention. In the same way, Jesus is saying our need for what’s right, for goodness and justice, should be just as strong.
It’s not about wishing the world was better in a casual way. It’s about feeling a deep, driving need inside to live rightly, and to see what’s right win out in our world.
How Does This Teaching Apply to Us Today?
Look around, and you’ll see plenty of reasons to want things to change: injustice, people being unkind, dishonesty in business or politics, and neighbors who don’t look out for each other. But Jesus calls us to do more than complain or post about it online—he calls us to act.
Hungering and thirsting for righteousness means making choices in our daily lives that aim for goodness, even when it’s not easy. It’s about:
· Choosing forgiveness over holding grudges, even when you’re hurt
· Helping those in need, whether it’s a friend, a stranger, or a cause you believe in
· Standing up for what’s right, even if it means taking the less popular path
· Breaking old habits that you know aren’t good for you or others
· Showing kindness, not just to those who like you, but to everyone—even the difficult ones
It’s Not Passive—It’s a Way of Living
Hungering and thirsting for righteousness is never just about feeling bad about problems or wishing things were different. It’s about letting your need for what’s right shape the way you treat people, the choices you make at work or school, and how you handle tough situations.
Just as your body can’t ignore hunger or thirst, your soul can’t ignore the real need for righteousness. It’s something we keep reaching for, day by day.
Why Did Jesus Say We’ll Be Satisfied?
Jesus promises that if you truly long for righteousness and chase after it, you’ll be “filled.” That doesn’t mean life will be perfect or that you’ll always get what you want in a worldly sense. But it means you’ll discover a deeper satisfaction—a sense of peace, meaning, and joy that doesn’t fade when things get tough.
The world is full of people chasing after things that don’t last: money, popularity, temporary pleasure. But when you go after what’s truly right, you find something lasting—something that feeds your soul.
The Qualities of a Blessed Life
In the same part of the Bible (Matthew 5:3-12), Jesus talks about other qualities that lead to a truly blessed life: being humble, caring about what’s right, having a pure heart, showing mercy, making peace, and even being willing to take some heat for doing the right thing. All these qualities work together and help us live a life that stands out, even in a world that sometimes gets it wrong.
Living Out This Teaching in Everyday Life
You don’t have to become perfect overnight or solve all the world’s problems by yourself. Start small—one kind act, one honest word, one decision to do what’s right, even if no one else notices.
The more you practice “hungering and thirsting for righteousness,” the more you’ll see real change in yourself and, little by little, in the world around you.
The Bottom Line: Real Satisfaction Comes from Chasing What Matters
In a world full of distractions and mixed messages, Jesus’ teaching is simple but life-changing: go after what’s right as if your life depended on it—because, in a way, it does. When you do, you’ll find a satisfaction that lasts, hope that doesn’t disappoint, and a life that makes a difference.
Minister A Francine Green
August 2025
afrancinegreen.com 