Many times it is hard for Americans to relate to the verse we will study tonight. That is, not many of us really have had to do without food and water for an extended period of time. Perhaps we have chosen to do this on a few occasions. Due to health reasons or even spiritual reasons we may have fasted from food and water. Regardless, to one degree or another, each of us knows something of what it means to be hungry and thirsty.
That is the reason why Christ chose these two words “hunger and thirst” to teach us about His righteousness.
It should be obvious to all of us by now that Jesus wants us to experience His righteousness. As far as He is concerned, our righteousness is not good enough. As well, we should know that Jesus Christ knows all there is to know about anything and everything.
When Jesus spoke this message, He knew what our problem is. Whenever you think that no one else knows or cares about your problem, let me remind you remind you that Jesus knows it all. That’s right all of it…
Jesus knows what your real problem is. It is that nothing in this world will ever satisfy any of us for very long.
Prayer:
Question: Do you ever find yourself not satisfied even though you know you really don’t need anything?
If so, this verse is what you need.
Most of us do have everything we really will ever need, but perhaps some of us are like the lady from Zambia. At the Pastor’s conference, Pastor Cleddie Keith asked what she wanted. She wept and said,
“I need Jesus to satisfy my needs.”
This woman had a “hunger and thirst” for Jesus.
She knew that no one else would ever satisfy her.
Not everyone knows has this kind of “hunger and thirst”. We want things, but what we need is more of Jesus
Illustration:
Springtime is here and we all know what that means. Garage sales. Yard sales. Everywhere you drive, someone has something in their garage (or, in their yard) they think you will want to buy. Some of these “things” may have only been used or worn once or twice. They may even still have a price tag on them.
At a garage sale we see “things” that someone bought and later realized they were not happy with it anymore. They never really needed that “thing”, but now they realize they don’t even want it. Some of those “things” were bought at a store, or at another garage sale, with the idea that it was going to bring that person satisfaction.
Someone bought some “thing” because it was going to make their life better, or it would make them happy.
I don’t want to sound cynical about having a little fun with frivolous shopping. Most of it is innocent.
Some of it serves a purpose. Some of us enjoy collecting old dishes and old tools. Some have saved money buying second hand clothes and used furniture.
Some of us laugh at others (or, even ourselves) about this strange American phenomenon. Garage sales do have a purpose for hard working folks like you and me.
But I think many would agree with me that there are times when anyone of us can get caught up in shopping. We sometimes spend more than we make because we think these “things” will make us happy.
Jesus knows everything you and I have need of. Perhaps there were garage sales (of some sort) during the days Jesus walked the Earth. I don’t know about that, but I am certain that people have always tried to find satisfaction with the “things” of this Earth.
In one form or another depending on the culture and the amount of income people are people.
Anywhere you go. During any period of time.
It doesn’t matter who you are or how much money you make. The need to find for you and I to be satisfied is real. If we don’t find it, we will keep looking.
Keep looking, my friend, but you won’t find it.
That is, unless you listen to what Jesus has to say.
It is no doubt true that the treasures of this world will never satisfy you for very long.
The treasures of heaven will satisfy you for all eternity.
Listen carefully to how Max Lucado put it.
“What we posses in this life must be held with an opened hand. If we do, then if something is taken from us, it will be nothing more than an inconvenience.”
Quote of the day: “An empty hand should never cause us to have an empty heart.”
Our Father possesses all of the “riches in glory.”
He has everything you have need of in His hands.
The difference is the Lord has all of these riches stored away waiting for you.
God’s Word tells us in Hebrew 11:6 that God
“…is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.”
What I think the Lord is saying is,
“If you want it, come and get it…”
Did I take that paraphrase a little too far? Not really. Consider how many times in the Bible that people had
· to “hunger and thirst” to find the Lord.
· go and find God with due diligence.
Example:
Matthew was a tax collector that was just minding his own business one day at work when a stranger walked in and said, “Follow Me.” That is all it took for Matthew. That day the Stranger instantly became the best friend Matthew would ever have. Wealthy Matthew invited Jesus to come home with Him and eat dinner.
Matthew was smart and perceptive with his new Friend.
I’m sure Matthew did everything he knew to make Jesus feel more than comfortable in his home.
All that belonged to Matthew now belonged to Jesus.
The Lord has approached people like Matthew many times. Suddenly and unannounced. And yet there have been others who have had to pursue the Lord.
On the other hand - There have been other people like Zacchaeus who were not treated the Matthew was.
And yet,
· Zacchaeus was a tax collector just like Matthew.
· Jesus did not go to see Zacchaeus at work the way He did with Matthew.
So then –
· What was the difference between these two tax collectors?
· Was Zacchaeus not important enough for Jesus to approach him the same way He approached his co-worker, Matthew?
My friend, Jesus loved Zacchaeus just as much He ever loved Matthew. Amen?
And yet -
· It was different for Zacchaeus than it was Matthew.
· Zacchaeus had to wait for Jesus to pass through town in a parade of other people.
· Zacchaeus wasn’t as tall as Matthew, and maybe not as poised and polite as Matthew.
· Maybe he wasn’t as smart and fun to be around as Matthew.
Maybe (in his mind) Zacchaeus could have come up with a thousand reasons why Jesus wouldn’t waste His time and come to personally visit him.
Question:
· Have you ever wondered why some other Christians have better relationship with the Lord than you do?
· Like Zacchaeus may have done, have you ever compared yourself with someone else?
The story of Zacchaeus is in many ways so different from your story. There was no way that Zacchaeus could ever get close to Jesus. He was too small to push and shove his way to get next to Jesus. He was more than likely hated by everyone he collected taxes from.
None of those reasons mattered to Zacchaeus.
He was determined to see Jesus no matter what.
He was even willing to climb a tree and look foolish in front of everybody in town. Just to see Jesus.
Application:
Zacchaeus may have had a lot of faults and reasons for not knowing Jesus. But that did not satisfy his “hunger and thirst” to see Jesus. In his expensive clothes, Zacchaeus ran ahead of the crowds and climbed a sycamore tree just to see Who Jesus was.
No guarantees for Zacchaeus for all of his trouble. Seeing Jesus from a distance was about all that he could hope for…
As a result of Zacchaeus’ “hunger and thirst” Jesus -
· Made it a point to recognize Zacchaeus as a real person in front of everyone who knew him.
· Invited Himself over to “stay at (his) house”.
Zacchaeus pursued Jesus without any regard of cost.
Hebrews 12:2 – Let us fix our eyes upon Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.
At all cost – we must “hunger and thirst” for Jesus.
It wasn’t enough for Zacchaeus –
· To see Jesus from the back of the crowd.
· Have someone else (taller) explain to him what Jesus might have been like.
Zacchaeus went out on a limb to find Jesus. It was risky, and there were no guarantees. Regardless, Zacchaeus’ “hunger and thirst” to find Jesus paid off.
Question:
Would you be willing to do the same?
That is, would you risk everything for a closer and more personal encounter with the Savior and Lord, the Ruler and Master of the Universe?
Have altar call.
