Why Do We Drink So Sparingly?

The story is told of a small boy from a Chicago slum who was taken to the hospital with a broken leg. There were seven children in his family and their hunger often went unsatisfied. When such a commodity as a glass of milk could be afforded, it had to be shared by a least two more siblings. A finger would be placed on a certain spot on the glass, and the child who was about to drink, would be cautioned, "Only to here!"

During his hospital stay, a nurse brought the little boy a large glass of milk. He looked at the glass longingly and then asked, "How deep can I drink?" With tears welling up in her eyes, she replied, "As deep as you desire!"

Jesus once called out in a crowd: "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me, and drink" (John 7:37). Spiritually speaking, Christ is to thirsty soul what water is to the thirsty mouth (John 7:38-39; cf. Isaiah 12:2-3; Isaiah 44:1-3; Joel 2:28; Acts 2:16-21).

When we experience an intense thirst, it can be a most unpleasant and even painful sensation. In fact, the dry throat, the swollen tongue, and the parched broken lips, are precursors of death unless water is quickly administered. Next to the air we breathe, water is the second most important prerequisite to life.

As with the little boy in the above story, how intensive our desire for spiritual things, will determine how deeply we drink of the spiritual water of life that our Lord affords us. We can but only imagine how such an impoverished lad would drink and drink still more from a full glass.

And so it is with us, spiritually speaking. The supply of Christ for our thirsty souls, is abundant and inexhaustible (John 4:13-14; John 6:35).

The question is, Why do we drink so sparingly?

 —Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets