Filled or Full?

 



 Introduction

Last time we asked the question, Are you hungry? We sited Matthew 5:6, Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.  In this article, I want to look at the response that Jesus gives to those who are hungry for righteousness.

Several years ago, I invited a co-worker to come to worship with me as I was preaching a lesson at the time. She had to think it over and would get back with me. The next day her reply was that she didn’t want to come as she was already full of “Spiritual Goodness”. These weren’t her exact words, but it was that sentiment.

Confused but her statement that she was full, I asked our local preacher about her comment. And he replied that I should have asked her what it was like to be full; seeing that she was “further along” than the rest of us.

 


Definitions (from Webster’s Dictionary)

Filled—2. a. Feed, Satiate, b. Satisfy, fulfill

Full—6. a. satisfied especially with food or drink; b. large enough to satisfy.

From the conversation with my co-worker, I think she used the word ‘full’ meaning that she “couldn’t eat another bite.” Or, in the world of religion, she had everything she needed; spiritually, that she couldn’t take in anymore.

I’m going to suggest to you that Jesus used the word, “filled”, to mean ‘content’; which means you’ll be hungry again. And this is the mindset that we, as Christians, should have.

 

Stay Hungry

The apostle Peter wrote in 1 Peter 2:1-2, Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby. Being filled allows you to continue on in your spiritual walk on a daily basis. Every Sunday, and even for Midweek bible study, we fill up on the word and the edification that worship gives us. We should always be hungry for righteousness so that it helps us continue to exercise our spiritual bodies (1 Tim. 4:7-8).

If we feel full, we tend to get lazy. In regard to our physical bodies, after a big meal, we feel full and just want to nap or stare at the television from a comfy chair.

In regard to our spiritual bodies, being full, we tend to let our guard down and allow Satan to enter unawares (1 Pet. 5:8). We may remove our spiritual armor and drop our shield (Eph. 6:13-17) as we find it too uncomfortable.

 

Conclusion

The moment that we should feel full is on the day of our death, when we can no longer hunger and thirst for righteousness. Until then, our desire is to be in constant want for God’s word and to be filled to continue on in the fight against Satan and sin.

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