By Arthur J Licursi

Hunger is a requisite to knowing the Lord, and thereby finding meaning and purpose for our lives. Often it takes time for one to come to recognize that the real hunger is for …  meaning and purpose in life, which does satisfy that hunger.

Are you hungry? What are you hungry for? We are all naturally hungry for something.

It has been written that there are two sorts of hunger; the ‘Little Hunger’ desires food, but the Greatest Hunger of all, is hunger for ‘meaning’ and thereby ‘purpose in life.’ The knowledge of ‘meaning’ and ‘purpose in life,’ is ultimately the only thing that provides deep and lasting satisfaction to our soul-self.

I hear many say to their loved ones; ’I just want you (or them) to be happy.” There is nothing wrong in seeking happiness, but of far more comfort to the soul of man is something greater than happiness and avoiding unhappiness; and that is meaning and purpose for living. To know and have ‘meaning and purpose’ revolutionizes all in one’s life. Once you know ‘meaning and purpose’ for your life and then choose live in accord with that revealed meaning and purpose, it becomes irrelevant whether you are happy or not. You are inwardly content. The externalities of life don’t matter so much.

Many come to the recognize their inner hunger so they try many roads. They try to satisfy this hunger in a thousand ways, but still our hunger remains, again because it will only be satisfied with ‘meaning’ in life. We cannot thrive inwardly without meaning. Our great need for meaning and purpose is as urgent and unceasing as our need for water.

As Christians under God’s grace, we still have free will, we are free to choose how we will live. But human freedom expressed in the way of the desires flesh tells us; “Do whatever makes you happy. You deserve it.” But God knows that’s not the way for us to live and will never bring us true happiness. So He gives us inward boundaries to regulate of living, even while we enjoy the good things in life. Just because you can do something does not mean you should do it.

As genuine believers, our knowledge of His written word and the indwelling sense of the Holy Spirit confirming it, clearly tells us what is not right for us. Thus, Paul wrote;

“All things are lawful unto me, but all things are NOT expedient [beneficia]: all things are lawful for me, but I Will Not Be Brought Under The Power Of Any.” (1 Corinthians 6:12 (KJV)

Coming to know the real source of or hunger really is… is the beginning of the genuine wisdom.

“The fear [reverence] of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy [Holy One - God] is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10 (KJV)

“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” Proverbs 4:7 (KJV)

As you can see from the verses above, the knowledge of ‘meaning’ and thereby ‘purpose in life’ is tied to the wisdom that only the knowledge of God can give us… so we study the Bible in the right way.

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)

The world and the things of ‘the flesh,’ meaning all that is superficial, are under the hand of the Devil as “the god of this world.” Money, position, fame, possessions, and success never really satisfy. They are used of the Devil as his intended distractions to keep us from the knowledge of mankind’s meaning and purpose, which is only found in an intimate personal union with the Lord.

“But he that is joined unto the Lord is one [in] spirit.” 1 Corinthians 6:17 (KJV)