Last night we had the chance to have dinner with some friends from out of town. The restaurant offered a mixed appetizer course, which can be an adventure in itself. Soon after we sat down, dishes began coming to the table one after the other. Bowls of olives and cheeses, platters of meats, plates of bread with various toppings. The dish that was introduced as “focaccia with lard” turned out to be a surprise hit with the kids.
In Italy, it’s generally best to go to dinner hungry.
Hunger is one of our first experiences with lack and it never really goes away. We enter this life ravenous. Babies eat every few hours. My kids aren’t even all that little anymore and I still better keep snacks in my purse. Heck, I like a snack most days, too. We eat and (for most of those reading this) are satisfied. But that satisfaction quickly wears off. As delicious as my dinner was last night, I’m ready for breakfast this morning.
We use the word ‘hungry’ to talk about having a strong desire for something, not just food. Hunger compels us to search for something to satisfy our appetite. And just like my kids standing in front of the fridge looking for the right snack, sometimes we waste a lot of energy looking for just the right thing that we think will fill us. We stuff our faces with things that aren’t good for us. Or we try one thing after another hoping it will quell our cravings, only to find nothing fills us once and for all.
The Bible has some things to say about our hunger. Being hungry isn’t wrong. It’s what we desire that matters. It’s where we go to have our need met that makes the difference. Because God gives both hunger and satisfaction.
“O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory. Your unfailing love is better to me than life itself; how I praise you! I will honor you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. You satisfy me more than the richest of foods.” Psalm 63:1-5
I think God allows our hunger to return in part to help us keep looking forward to the feast He’s preparing. The point of an appetizer is to stimulate the appetite, not to satiate it. It’s an introduction to the good things to come. While we might wish for a lasting satisfaction here and now, what would it be like to show up at the wedding supper of the Lamb too full to enjoy it?
“The Lord Almighty will spread a wonderful feast for everyone around the world. It will be a delicious feast of good food, with clear, well-aged wine and choice beef. In that day he will remove the cloud of gloom, the shadow of death that hangs over the earth. He will swallow up death forever! The Sovereign Lord will wipe away all tears. He will remove forever all insults and mockery against his land and people. The Lord has spoken!” Isaiah 25:6-8
It’s a waste of time trying to fill yourself up on what the world has to offer. It’s only meant to be an appetizer, a foretaste of the feast God has in the works, where He promises our deepest longings will be completely met and we will be fully satisfied.