Isaiah 55:1-2, 6-7; Psalm 63:1-8; 1 Corinthians 10:1-10
Rev. Kenneth M. Locke, Interim Pastor
Orchard Park Presbyterian Church; Carmel, IN
March 23, 2025; Third Sunday of Lent
At their core, our Old Testament lessons today are about desire. Craving, wanting something. All of us are born this way. We are born restless. We’re born to want. We’re born with desire. We crave things. When we’re children, we desire the things children desire: new toys, games, staying up late. As we age, our desires change but we still desire. Maybe we want money and fame. Perhaps we desire romance and children. Maybe we crave power, respect, control. Whatever it is, we’re all born to desire. No one is immune.
But though we desire, we only have so much energy and emotion for satisfying our desires, our cravings.
Some desires and cravings are better than others. Some can hurt us. Drugs and alcohol come most quickly to mind. There’s also adrenalin. Body sculpting. Most anything we want too much can be bad for us. In fact, they can kill us. Remember what Paul says to the young Christians in Corinth.
7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” 8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. 9 We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. 10 And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.’ (1 Corinthians 10:7-10)
As Christians, we know those things don’t really cut it. We may spend a LOT of energy and emotion on them, but we still won’t be satisfied. As Isaiah says, “Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?”
OK, sounds good. Don’t desire the things that can kill us. Bad use of energy and emotion. Desire the things God wants. That’s where peace and fulfillment lie. Seek God and the things God wants with all the desire of someone dying of thirst.
But how do we learn to desire the kingdom of God as fiercely as someone dying of thirst craves a glass of water? How do we
learn to desire justice and righteousness more than life itself? St. Augustine famously said to God, “Our hearts are restless, until they rest in thee.” OK. I agree. But how do we get there? How do we do
that? How do we learn to desire what brings life rather than death? How do we train ourselves to turn away from desiring what leaves us empty to desiring like God?
A good start would be examining what we desire now. What do we crave? What are we spending our energy and emotion on? And when we get it, will we be satisfied? Will our restless heart be at peace? Or will we want more? And more? And more? How much is enough? Is it worth the energy and emotion we’re spending on it?
Next, learn what God wants. How does God want us to live? How does God want us spending our energy and emotion? I think we can all agree on the basics from the Bible: justice, mercy, caring for the poor and powerless, living lives of personal holiness. These are the things God craves.
Third – hang out with people who are already doing that! Some of you know I’ve been taking weight lifting classes at a gym near my home 3 mornings a week. It’s been really nice. I’m part of a small community of early risers supporting each other, empowering and helping each other live stronger, healthier lives.
For us wanting to be like God, that means getting to know people at our church. Coming to worship and making friends. If we want to learn about being concerned for the poor and powerless, go to the Mission Committee meetings. They’re free and they’d be glad to see you. If we want to learn more about the Bible and what it teaches about the Christian life, go to a Sunday school class. They’re free and they’d be glad to see you.
Finally, go out and do those things God wants us to do. Be generous to the powerless. Work at forgiving enemies. Speak up for the poor. Be a peacemaker. And when it’s in our power, show mercy. In other words, live like Jesus. Embrace the life of self-giving love we see in Jesus.
Beloved, we’re all born with desire. We all have a hunger and we’re restless until that hunger is filled. But why spend our energy and emotion on what doesn’t satisfy?
The only way we’re going to still our restless hearts is living like Jesus. Turning away from our empty cravings and instead seeking what satisfies. And the only thing truly satisfying is living like Jesus, or as Isaiah might say, feasting on Jesus who is not an
expensive pastry reserved for the few, but a humble loaf nourishing the many. Thanks be to God, Amen.