The Futility of Self-Righteousness

As we progress through the beatitudes, we encounter a fundamental spiritual truth: genuine righteousness cannot be achieved through human effort. If we try to have a close, personal relationship with God through our own personal merit and works, we will never succeed. Romans 3:10 teaches that as fallen sinners we have no righteousness in ourselves (Romans 3:10). Before salvation, God says that we are children of the evil one and do not have the truth in us (John 8:44). Therefore, we cannot rely on our own “good” works, for they are seen as filthy rags in God’s sight (Isaiah 64:6).

This reality may seem discouraging until we understand the beautiful alternative God provides. If we place our faith in Christ’s righteousness and blood sacrifice on the cross alone for our salvation, and seek after spiritual growth as new believers by following God’s commands in the Bible, He promises to grant us peace and joy as we grow closer to Him. The hunger and thirst for righteousness that Jesus describes is not a striving to earn God’s favor but a deep desire to know Him more fully and to live in alignment with His will.

Drawing Near to the Source

James 4:8 states, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” As newly born-again believers experience the goodness and love of God through their personal devotions and His many blessings, their thirst and hunger for righteousness is not only satisfied by His Word but also becomes stronger as they desire to learn more and become closer to their God and Savior. This creates a beautiful cycle: the more we taste of God’s goodness, the more we hunger for it (Psalm 34:8). The more we drink from the living water Christ offers, the more we realize how deeply we need Him.

The spiritual journey to be more like Christ is lifelong and filled with trials and blessings, failures and growth, correction and praise. Daily life and personal trials will take their toll. The pleasures of the world are empty and take more than they give. Friends come and go; life is fleeting (James 4:14). In a fallen world where everything has an end and seemingly everything comes at a high price, there is such a desire for something—or Someone—to fill that emptiness we all experience and to give meaning to our lives.

The Promise of Lasting Satisfaction

Christ promises that if we come to Him, He will not only satisfy our longings but also give us something to live for, the means to perform it well, and the motivation to carry it out. Jesus declares, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst” (John 6:35). This is not to say that believers never experience spiritual hunger or thirst again, but rather that Christ becomes the perpetual source of satisfaction. Unlike the temporary pleasures of this world that leave us empty and wanting more, Christ fills us with something lasting and real.

When God is the rudder of our lives as we venture out into the vast unknown, we can be sure that He will guide us exactly where we need to go and supply all our needs spiritually, emotionally, and physically (Philippians 4:19). Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are blessed because they recognize where true satisfaction is found. They are not content with superficial religiosity or worldly substitutes but desire the deep, transforming relationship with God that only comes through Christ. They long to know Him more intimately, to understand His Word more deeply, and to reflect His character more fully.

The Lifelong Pursuit

This beatitude describes not a one-time experience but an ongoing posture of the heart. The Greek words for “hunger” and “thirst” indicate a continuous, intense craving—not merely a passing interest in spiritual things. This is the desperation of a starving person seeking bread or a person dying of thirst seeking water. Such intensity reveals the value we place on righteousness and our relationship with God. Are we merely spiritually curious, or are we genuinely desperate for more of God?

The promise attached to this hunger is glorious: “they shall be filled.” God does not leave us wanting. He satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry with good things (Psalm 107:9). As we pursue righteousness—not to earn salvation but because we have already received it—God promises to meet us, fill us, and satisfy the deepest longings of our hearts.

Reflection Questions

1. Would you describe your spiritual life as characterized by intense hunger and thirst for God, or have you settled into comfortable complacency?
2. What areas of your life reveal that you’re seeking satisfaction in worldly things rather than in Christ alone?
3. How has your hunger for righteousness grown or diminished since you first believed? What factors have influenced this change?
4. What practical steps can you take to cultivate a deeper hunger for God’s Word and a stronger thirst for His presence?

Prayer

Consider the sufficiency of Christ to satisfy every spiritual hunger and thirst. He is the bread of life and the living water. Nothing else can truly fill the emptiness in your soul.

For further study on the beatitudes, see the full devotional series here: Beatitudes