“You, God, are my God, I earnestly seek You; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.” (Psalm 63:1 NLT)
In last night’s bible study, we discussed Mark 10:17-31 and the problem with wealth. As we considered the narrative of the rich young ruler, we realized our status as Americans. See, most Americans hold position in the upper ten percent of of wealth holders in the world. As a class, we wrestled with Jesus’ words about camels and needles and the repercussions of His teaching on our own lives. We recognized how it is especially challenging for wealthy people to be Kingdom people because our excess tends to make us more self-sufficient and self-serving. We also noted how Americans are prone to these two traits and we each wrestled with the weight of our own stuff laid beside the call to follow Christ. It was an uncomfortable conversation, for sure.
Then this morning, I open the scriptures to this simple and profound psalm: a plea from a needful man, an acknowledgment that apart from God, he has nothing. I reconsider last night’s discussion. It would appear that, apart from God, we still have so much. We, as wealthy Americans, are drinking from a fire hose of affluence, entertainment and options. We have so drowned ourselves in lesser affections and appetites that we don’t even feel the thirst for God in our own frames. We might go our entire lives without ever truly awakening to our deepest need.
Here’s a stunning example of this concept in more trackable terms. Right now, Americans have access to a plethora of beverage options: honestly we have more soft drinks and teas and milks and coffees and juices than any previous generation. We have so many choices that the majority of Americans prefer something caffeinated, sugar or colored to actual water itself: something that our body requires and craves. Americans effectively drown our thirst for water with other things because we have so many choices. And amidst all this choice, shockingly, 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. Dehydration contributes negatively to inflammation, high blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and a host of other health conditions. Our aversion to water is straight up bad for our health. In contrast: Africa is a continent where beverage options are more limited. Access to clean drinking water is also harder to come by. Even so, only ten percent of Africans are chronically dehydrated. Perhaps the are more attune to their body’s needs because they haven’t drown out their thirst with lesser liquids.
When we drink from the fire hose of the world day after day, we drown out the Word of God in our lives and we wind up living in chronic spiritual dehydration. So how do we awaken our thirst again? We intentionally step back from the fire hose of the world. We find a quiet place to meet with the Maker of heaven and earth and we prioritize our time with Him, knowing full-well we require His presence to sustain our soul. We learn to distinguish His still, small voice below the roar of our lives and we live obedient to Him. When He asks us to lay something down or give something up, we refuse to go away sad as the rich young ruler did. Instead we agree and scooch that much closer to the God of the universe who can meet every need and quench every thirst.
“You satisfy me more than the riches feast.” (Psalm 63:5a NLT)
Lord, give us courage to step away form the firehose of the world. Let us feel our thirst. Meet us as we step away. Awaken our appetites for the things of God. Help us hunger and thirst for You. Satisfy us as only You can. Amen.