You Are What You Crave: What Your Deepest Desires Reveal About You
Confession time: I have never once in my life gone to the refrigerator — day or night — craving kale. Never have, never will. Not happening. But I have been known to be sitting at home, minding my own business, when a thought suddenly hits me: There is ice cream in the fridge. And within moments, I'm there, feeling the cool draft of frozen air, gazing at my options like I've discovered treasure.
Here's what that tells us about cravings: craving isn't polite, casual, or even optional. It moves you.
"Blessed Are Those Who Crave Me"
That's exactly why Jesus said, in Matthew 5:6, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled."
In other words, Jesus was saying, "Blessed are those who CRAVE ME."
Let's break that down, because every word matters here.
Blessed — the Greek word is makarios. It doesn't just mean happy or fortunate. It's more like a hearty "Congratulations! It's yours — right now, present tense — and no one can take it away." Jesus himself said, "No one shall take your joy from you" (John 16:22).
Hunger and thirst — this isn't a mild preference. Think of a person stranded in the desert, desperate. It's a craving that demands attention.
Righteousness — being right with God. But it has two dimensions: what God does for us, and what we do in response. More on that in a moment.
Filled — completely full. In the soul. Think Thanksgiving dinner — stuffed to the point of discomfort. Now contrast that with when your heart is full of joy. Indescribable. Like the birth of a child. How do you even put that feeling into words?
When You're Hungry, the Wrong Things Look Good
Ever been so busy you forgot to eat? You get to a point where even a gas station looks gourmet. That kind of hunger changes you. It makes you hangry. And spiritually speaking, when we're running on empty, the wrong things start looking very appealing.
The world's menu is always dressed up to sound incredible — like a fancy restaurant where they make everything sound irresistible. Success. Security. Comfort. Control. Money. They make even kale sound good.
But here's the problem: if we dine off the world's menu, we are left starving.
John D. Rockefeller, one of the wealthiest men in history, was once asked how much money was enough. His answer? "Just a little more." The wisdom of Solomon said it plainly thousands of years earlier in Ecclesiastes 5:10: "Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless."
Actor Jim Carrey put it this way: "I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it's not the answer."
And why does the world leave us feeling empty? Because the only fullness of the soul comes from God.
Craving Righteousness Means Putting Faith Into Action
Being right with God — being righteous — doesn't just mean being loved and accepted by God. It means a longing, a craving, to make things right because you love God.
Jesus illustrated this powerfully in a parable found in Matthew 25:31-46. He described a future moment when the Son of Man — Jesus himself — returns in glory and separates people as a shepherd separates sheep from goats. To those on his right, he says, "Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me" (Matthew 25:34-36).
Confused, the people ask — Lord, when did we ever do any of that for you? And Jesus answers, "Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me" (Matthew 25:40).
Doing for God means doing for His children.
The book of James makes the same point in James 2:15-17: "If a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food and one of you says, 'Go in peace, keep warm and be well fed,' but does nothing… what good is it?"
Craving righteousness leads to action. What you do for the least of these is what you do for Jesus himself.
Putting It Into Practice
So here's the honest question: What are you hungry for?
If you crave food, there are plenty of choices — but you'll be hungry again tomorrow.
If you crave success, you'll be driven.
If you crave money, you'll be consumed.
But if you crave righteousness, the Psalmist tells us that God "satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things" (Psalm 107:9).
Here's a practical challenge to take with you:
Ask God to put a craving in your heart for what HE desires for and from you. Start small, but start — daily. Do something to make a difference in someone's life. Feed someone who is hungry. Welcome someone who feels like a stranger. Show up for someone who is struggling.
You are what you crave. And when you begin to crave what God craves, you'll find the kind of fullness that no freezer full of ice cream — or anything else this world offers — can ever provide.
If you want help on this journey toward fulfillment, we are here to walk with you. Need some help? Email Discipleship Pastor Daniel Brown for next steps and resources.