“The person who labors, labors for himself, for his hungry mouth drives him on.” ~ Proverbs 16:26
REFERENCE:
Jesus Christ made a universal statement about the power of hunger when He said, “Blessed are those who hunger…for…they shall be filled.” Hunger is a force that the universe cannot deny but respond to by supplying what it desires. Hunger represents a strong desire or craving for anything, an attractive force that drives the hungry to satisfy their hunger.
Other words like desire, craving, longing, and yearning describe hunger. Have you seen a baby hungry for his mother’s milk? He wails, whines, and cries with intense desire until the mother suckles him. While feeding, he often holds on tightly with his gums and hands to the mother’s breast. That is how much he craves milk and would not let go until satisfied.
Unfortunately, many people lose their innate hunger and drive to pursue what they desire as they age. Series of disappointments and what we call ‘reality checks’ tame their appetite, and they settle for whatever life hands them. Yet, what separates those who struggle from high achievers is hunger. One is lulled into a sense of false contentment, while the other believes that he can have more and that things can be better than they presently are.
Our text reveals that when you see someone who labors tirelessly and keeps at a goal even when it logically appears that they should give up, check very well; they are driven by hunger. It may be a hunger to send their four children to school, build a great business, put in their one thousand hours of professionalism, or build a brand. As long as that desire or craving is there, the difficulty of the work or the time it takes no longer matters.
Your hunger is what will determine what comes to you in life. Are you where God wants you to be? Is there something you hope to achieve? How strong is your want-to? How desperate are you for a change? When Jacob held God’s angel and refused to let go, his life was changed. Barren Rachael cried out, “Give me a child, or I die,” and she had two sons. Hunger is not as bad as it is often presented; when channeled rightly, hunger has innovative power.
PHOTO QUOTE
ADDITIONAL TEXTS:
Genesis 32:24-28 and II Kings 4:18-37
PRAYER
+ Ask God to fill you with hunger and thirst to discover and fulfill His purpose for your life.
+ Receive the grace to redirect your hunger, dissatisfaction, and craving toward achieving your great goal in life.
+ Refuse to be a victim of circumstances, take no for an answer, or succumb to challenges. Say, “It is well, and all will be well.”
All is well !