How is this for a menu: 46 million pounds potato chips
1.25 billion buffalo wings
10 million slices of pizza
These are the three most popular snack foods for Super Bowl Sunday, and this is what fans consumed last Sunday. While pizza, chips and dip are ongoing favorites, buffalo wings are now the traditional snack food associated with the Super Bowl with their consumption rising geometrically each year.
We all have our favorite foods that we crave. I like to watch people's plates when I'm at a buffet, because I can quickly tell what foods are on their personal menu. First there are the “carb cravers” who love to pile on the starch. Their plate contains items like spaghetti and stuffed baked potatoes, with a side plate of several slices of garlic bread. The “carnivores” have a sampling of every cut of meat available (never fish or chicken) and a baked potato or better yet, french fries.
The “Diary Queens” collect cheese spread and crackers, varieties of cheese wedges, lasagna with extra cheese from the salad bar, cottage cheese and fruit salad, and of course, ice cream for dessert. Then there are the “grazers.” These are the souls who forage on the salad bar gathering various flora with a multitude of toppings, and always return to your table with a slightly virtuous smile. I could go on, but I think you get the idea.
When we “get the craving,” we can't seem to get enough of the foods that are on our personal menu. For me, it's Chinese food, especially kung-pao chicken. We can stuff our face and still be hungry for more, but foods are not the only area where we have a personal menu. We also have one in what we hunger for in life.
You don't have to watch people very long to see what's on their personal “life menu.” Some people crave power and influence, while others collect money and possessions. Some want to be on the cutting edge of fashion, and others hunger for fame and success. Some strive to be star athletes or highly respected authorities in their career field, while others constantly check their Facebook page to see how many “new friends” they have.
What's on your personal “life menu?” Which interests and pursuits tend to dominate your time and energy? Do they bring you deep and lasting satisfaction, or like food cravings, do they need to be constantly fed with more?
In His famous sermon on the mount, Jesus gives us an important truth about our “life menu.” He tells us: “Blessed, that is happy, are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (a right relationship with God), for they shall be filled.” (Matthew 5:6)
You see, God originally created us to be in relationship with Him. He wants us to enjoy our lives here and the good things we can have. However, if we are not in a right relationship with Him, we will find ourselves continuing to be hungry and craving for “something more.” It doesn't matter how much we fill our “life menu” with additional attainments, we won't find ongoing satisfaction.
Put a relationship with God at the top of your personal “life menu” today, and begin to experience the deep fulfillment only He can bring.
Please join us this Sunday at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM. My son, Gabriel Ahn, will discuss how we hunger for righteousness and are filled, another topic in our current series: “What's the H in HRock Church?”
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