What does it mean to “hunger” for God?

Proverbs 2:1–5 My child, listen to what I say, and treasure my commands. ² Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. ³ Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. ⁴ Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. ⁵ Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God.

Have you ever heard a baby cry when he or she is really hungry? Is there any question as to whether or not that child wants something? How about when a middle schooler missed breakfast, and now it is lunchtime? Ever see food inhaled? What does any healthy teenager say when they are waiting for Pizza, but the delivery is late? “I’m starving!” Like they have been in a famine, yet it has been a day full of snacks, goodies and sodas!

When our physical hunger alarm goes off, we can be fierce in satisfying that appetite. What about our spiritual hunger? How do we know if we are truly hungering for more of God’s nourishment, or just snacking, filling instead on the “junk” food from this world? 

This portion of Proverbs gives us some great insight! Let’s examine the words used here and what they teach us that hunger looks like.

"Listen" – Information is coming at us so fast today, we must make ourselves slow down enough to allow His Word to penetrate our mind. Listening is not just receiving data, it is digestion information that allows for transformation.

"Treasure" – What do we really value? What we love, we will pursue!

Matthew 6:21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

"Tune" - is His Spirit or our flesh controlling us? If our life “dial” is tuned into self we will miss what God is saying. We must bring our life in tune with His Spirit and Word.

"Concentrate" - Do we continue to digest and digest again what God is saying to us? Do we treat His Word as a quick snack, or a gourmet meal that should be taken in a bite at a time, enjoying each morsel to it's fullest? We will get out of His Word what we put into it. Snack only and we will either be spiritually malnourished or starve. Slow down, taste, digest each thought and enjoy!

“Cry out” – This phrase expresses an intensity. This is not some desire we “kinda” want! Question yourself, if I don’t get His Word into me, how will I feel? The answer will show you more than you might want to know. Whining comes from the surface, crying begins in the depths of your affections. You want it so bad it hurts!

“Ask” – To ask requires being proactive. How many times have we experienced a scene in a movie where someone is angry because information was withheld from them and they say, “You never told me!” The response they get is, “You never asked!” We need to be reminded what our brother James said.

James 1:5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

God is waiting and desirous
to share His wisdom…but most times He will not force-feed us! We need to ask!

“Search & Seek” – Interesting here, both words in the original are similar, however, the first one has more to do with securing information, while the other is even used concerning searching through a house for “plunder!” The issue we need to get is that there is a fervent commitment to find something, whether it be information or something tangible that is valued by the one searching.

Beloved, God never plays “Hide and Seek” with the Truth. He chooses to progressively share with us His wisdom in a way that produces maturity. When we do not understand the gospel, He will spoon-feed us. However, once we have been shown the Truth, He will leave our next meals up to us. If we desire to remain on milk, He will allow us to, God understands that unless we really want it, we will not keep it! God shares His Truth with so many that just throw it away. Because of His grace and mercy He continues to do so, yet, because He loves us and knows that spiritual maturity is the greatest freedom, He will make us deal with the question; “How bad do I really want it?”

The Lord states the truth in such a way that we have to face it! All of us would agree how much excitement, anticipation and energy we would have if we possessed a treasure map that we absolutely knew…if we searched diligently enough we would find that treasure! God takes a desire that all of us would have and challenges us to rethink our priorities. It would be normal to be excited about finding a treasure that made us rich materially, we just should not fall in love with it!

“The so what?” Do we see God’s revelation of Himself as a treasure? How hard do we seek for it? Do we spend time digging into His Word to see if His Spirit will illuminate more truth to us? Can you pray this prayer: Father, produce in me a hunger for Your Word, that I might pursue You more than I would worldly treasure.