“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled”
You might not want to admit it, but the things you buy have an affect on your happiness. We believe the lie that stuff will bring us happiness. Companies know this and no longer market to the mind but to your heart. Commercials position their items as keys to happiness, success, peace, and fulfillment. And we have all fallen into an impulsive purchase because we wanted to feel happy.
But what happens to that new purchase? Everything new becomes old and before long, the new purchase that brought you joy will be discarded. The items that consume our thoughts and happiness slowly fade away.
Why?
- They break.
- They become old.
- They don’t spark joy.
As something fails to bring us happiness we replace it with something new. The spiral of cheap happiness begins again.
The word beatitude is Latin and refers to a state of happiness or bliss. Jesus begins the Sermon on the Mount with Jesus teaching how someone can find true happiness while on this planet. Each of the beatitudes in Matthew 5 reverse a popular notion of happiness and life. Matthew 5:6 cuts to the hungers and desires, passions, and hunger of the soul.
A hungry person has one thing on their mind – finding food or water. Only food and water will satisfy someone who is hungry. Jesus is making a clear point – a hungry soul, one searching for happiness and purpose, can only be filled by a pursuit of Jesus.
The beatitudes show us that true happiness comes from faithfulness to Jesus. Happiness is not the goal for discipleship – faithfulness is.
Physical things will not satisfy spiritual needs.
We stand on the Word or God, walk in His power, live out our faith, and proclaim the truth in love. True happiness is only found in the one who gives life.
Happiness isn’t based on your surroundings, your stuff, or your successes. It is only found in your Savior. Everything else will come and go. But Jesus will remain forever.
Live It:
- Do you hunger for things or the things of God?
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Chase Snyder
Writer, Pastor
