Matthew 5:6 (NIV) “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they

will be filled.”

Filled speaks of being satisfied. Content. Abundant life. The good life.

Solomon the wealthiest man who ever lived and the wisest man who ever lived. And he writes this miserable book called Ecclesiastes. And he goes on this journey to be filled- to be satisfied.

He tries education- if I know more, if I learn all that I can. If I get degrees and certificates.

Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV) For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more

knowledge, the more grief.

Ecclesiastes 12:12 (NIV) Of making many books there is no end, and much study

wearies the body.

He tries achievement- he said if I build something great, if I work hard enough, I can accomplish something remarkable and win admiration and love and be satisfied.

Ecclesiastes 2:10-11 (NIV) I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was the reward for all my toil. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing

was gained under the sun

Ecclesiastes 2:17-18 (NIV) So I hated life, because the work that is done under the

sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. I hated

all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one

who comes after me.

He tries money-

Ecclesiastes 5:10-11 (NIV) Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves

wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless. As goods

increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the

owners except to feast their eyes on them?

Ecclesiastes 4:8 (NIV) There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother.

There was no end to his toil… He’s speaking of himself.

1 Kings 11:3 (NIV) He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three

hundred concubines… and he’s going to learn this was disastrous.

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (MSG) The last and final word is this: Fear God. Do what he

tells you. And that’s it. Eventually God will bring everything that we do out into the

open and judge it according to its hidden intent, whether it's good or evil.

“Thou hast formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee.” ~St. Augustine

Proverbs 21:21 (NIV) Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity, and honor.

There are two things that will keep us from being hungry for God

1) We fill up on the wrong things.

Sin tastes good but never satisfies.

Hebrews 11:25 (NIV) (Moses) chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.

Isaiah 55:1-2 (NCV) The LORD says, “All you who are thirsty, come and drink. Those

of you who do not have money, come, buy and eat! Come buy wine and milk without

money and without cost. Why spend your money on something that is not real food?

Why work for something that doesn’t really satisfy you? Listen closely to me, and

you will eat what is good; your soul will enjoy the rich food that satisfies.”

2) We’ve never experienced the goodness of God.

Psalm 34:8 (NIV) Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

Ephesians 3:18-19 (NIV) I pray that you… may have power, together with all the

Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of

Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled

to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Are you putting Jesus first?

Are you planted in the Word of God and House of God?

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Romans 5:9-11 (NLT) And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of

Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with

God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will

certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful

new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.

We are made right with God by coming into relationship with God.

(Proverbs 14:12 NIV) There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads

to death.

2 Tim 2:22 Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.

Proverbs 21:21 (NIV) Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity, and honor.