Ever wonder exactly who Jesus meant when He said the “poor
in spirit” are blessed. We would be wise
to learn because the kingdom of heaven is theirs. (Matthew 5:3) In this first of what we often call the
Beatitudes, I had always thought that Jesus was talking about having a humble
heart that accepts our spiritual poverty and inability to do anything without
Him. That is, until a few days ago… While
I still think there is an element of truth to my original understanding, now I’m
learning that Jesus had a more specific and poignant truth to teach us.
Thanks to a friend’s sharing of an article from A. W. Tozer’s book, The Pursuit of God, I believe I have gained a clearer insight into what Jesus wants us to know about this Beatitude. For those who live at the poverty level financially it is not so difficult for them to realize that they have nothing and need to depend on God to supply their needs. On the other hand, the more we acquire of this world’s goods and wealth the less likely we are to recognize our dependency on Him, or even acknowledge Him at all.
Does He not know we need things? Of course, but that isn’t the issue. It’s all about our attitude toward those things and the place they have in our lives. Jesus teaches us to “seek first the kingdom of God and its righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). It’s no wonder that the first commandment God gave the Israelites was, “You shall have no other gods before me.” This is perhaps our greatest temptation, to give more importance to something (typically, it’s many things) in our lives ahead of the One who gave us the things in the first place. In so doing, we are putting our trust in created things rather than the Creator Himself, which is an affront to Him.
Thanks to a friend’s sharing of an article from A. W. Tozer’s book, The Pursuit of God, I believe I have gained a clearer insight into what Jesus wants us to know about this Beatitude. For those who live at the poverty level financially it is not so difficult for them to realize that they have nothing and need to depend on God to supply their needs. On the other hand, the more we acquire of this world’s goods and wealth the less likely we are to recognize our dependency on Him, or even acknowledge Him at all.
Does He not know we need things? Of course, but that isn’t the issue. It’s all about our attitude toward those things and the place they have in our lives. Jesus teaches us to “seek first the kingdom of God and its righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). It’s no wonder that the first commandment God gave the Israelites was, “You shall have no other gods before me.” This is perhaps our greatest temptation, to give more importance to something (typically, it’s many things) in our lives ahead of the One who gave us the things in the first place. In so doing, we are putting our trust in created things rather than the Creator Himself, which is an affront to Him.
The open palm is the best metaphor I know to illustrate the heart
that is truly poor in spirit. Recognizing
that it possesses nothing and that God is the owner of all, it holds whatever God
has given with an open hand freely yielded back to Him to take, if He chooses.
In contrast is the closed fist that clutches on to all that has been entrusted to it as its own possessions. When something is taken away, how painful, confusing and depressing it can become.
It’s a funny thing, but we humans without the illumination of God's Word, fail to deal with the reality that we will all leave everything behind some day anyway. I’ve yet to see a moving van accompany the hearse to the cemetery!
Having little does not necessarily imply that a person is poor in spirit, nor does having wealth necessarily indicate the contrary, although Jesus pointed out the “deceitfulness of riches” and how difficult it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. The deception is in thinking that what we have is actually our possession.
Have you been caught in that trap? I mean not just your money, investments, houses and cars, but also other things, including: job, skills, talents, gifts, health, family, friends, etc.? Do you recognize that you have these by the grace of your Creator, that they are temporal in nature, that they all belong to Him, and that they are loaned to us for a time to cultivate, manage and devote to His purposes and His glory? You're blessed if you do.
So then, being poor in spirit means having a heart that understands that whatever we have, little or much, it is not a possession but a temporary loan. And the reward is that our true possession is the kingdom of heaven – what an inheritance!
A final illustration. One day Jesus was observing how various people were giving their offerings to the temple. He pointed out to his disciples a poor widow who had just deposited two small copper coins. He told them that she had given more than all the others, some who had donated large sums, because it was all she had to live on. (Mark 12:41-44)
Imagine what her heavenly inheritance will be! Though we don’t know her name (yet), think of the untold millions of us who have heard her story told by Jesus and the joy she will experience in heaven from hearing how we were inspired to become poor in spirit because of her. I’m looking forward to meeting her, aren’t you?
In contrast is the closed fist that clutches on to all that has been entrusted to it as its own possessions. When something is taken away, how painful, confusing and depressing it can become.
It’s a funny thing, but we humans without the illumination of God's Word, fail to deal with the reality that we will all leave everything behind some day anyway. I’ve yet to see a moving van accompany the hearse to the cemetery!
Having little does not necessarily imply that a person is poor in spirit, nor does having wealth necessarily indicate the contrary, although Jesus pointed out the “deceitfulness of riches” and how difficult it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. The deception is in thinking that what we have is actually our possession.
Have you been caught in that trap? I mean not just your money, investments, houses and cars, but also other things, including: job, skills, talents, gifts, health, family, friends, etc.? Do you recognize that you have these by the grace of your Creator, that they are temporal in nature, that they all belong to Him, and that they are loaned to us for a time to cultivate, manage and devote to His purposes and His glory? You're blessed if you do.
So then, being poor in spirit means having a heart that understands that whatever we have, little or much, it is not a possession but a temporary loan. And the reward is that our true possession is the kingdom of heaven – what an inheritance!
A final illustration. One day Jesus was observing how various people were giving their offerings to the temple. He pointed out to his disciples a poor widow who had just deposited two small copper coins. He told them that she had given more than all the others, some who had donated large sums, because it was all she had to live on. (Mark 12:41-44)
Imagine what her heavenly inheritance will be! Though we don’t know her name (yet), think of the untold millions of us who have heard her story told by Jesus and the joy she will experience in heaven from hearing how we were inspired to become poor in spirit because of her. I’m looking forward to meeting her, aren’t you?
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