HUNGRY OR SATISFIED
Proverbs 27:7 NKJ
7 A satisfied soul loathes the honeycomb,
But to a hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
There are great nuggets of wisdom in the Proverbs. Many great nuggets of wisdom, and Proverbs 27 is no exception. I love the wisdom in verse two that says, "Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth..." In a culture full of self-praise, this wisdom certainly goes against the grain. Our verse for today is not so much countercultural as it is very practical. This is a truth that applies to more than just food.
But speaking of food, as we face the day of Thanksgiving and eating, here is wisdom we all understand. When we are full or satisfied, we don't even want any more dessert. When full, the chocolate pie, milk chocolate, not dark chocolate, is not appealing. But just give it a few hours and the milk chocolate pie looks great. The wisdom of not going into a grocery store hungry makes sense. Whenever I would go to a grocery store for Joy, I had better not walk in hungry. When hungry, even food I would normally pass by looks good. Real good. Hungry in the grocery store equates to a much higher food bill.
But we can also look at this principle in other areas. To someone hungry for a relationship, they may become attached to a person of questionable character. Or connect with a person who has everyone scratching their heads as to why. This is often the reason we see people start a rebound relationship after a loss or breakup.
To a satisfied soul, the prospect of winning or losing can often be put into a different perspective. For example, a ball player comes to Christ and for the first time is satisfied in his soul. Now, a ballgame can lose some importance. This is not universal for all Christian athletes but Jesus did say He would give us living water, and we would no longer thirst. The concept here is that hunger drives us, and being full reduces drive.
So, let's take a look at this proverb from a spiritual standpoint. When we are satisfied or full, then God's Word is not as appealing. But to the one who is hungry, every one of my sermons is great. That may be a bit of an overstatement, but there is truth here. Here is where we need to be alert. There are things of the world that can fill us up. We can get caught up with hobbies, interests, videos, and entertainment. Also, jobs and the quest for money can distract us to the point where spiritual hunger is diluted. As a pastor, I have watched people fill up on many things that may be legitimate and have some value in this life but add nothing spiritually. Paul told Timothy that bodily exercise is profitable for this life, but godliness is profitable for this life and the one to come. The life to come may seem to be far in the future, but it's closer than we think. And the life to come is eternal.
Am I making the case for living like a monk so concerned with heavenly things that we are no earthly good? The short answer is no. What I am making the case for is a hunger for God and the things of God. This hunger can move us into a life that prospers here and now and advantageously sets us up for the life to come. So, whatever you do, stay hungry my friends.
PRAYER
Lord, where I have become too full with other things, reveal that to me. And where I have lost a hunger for You and the things of Your kingdom, please show me so I can adjust.