Monday Morning Memo: Are You Poor?

Imagine you and I are on the mountainside, sitting at the feet of Jesus.  We are talking, laughing and showing each other pictures of our kids, grandkids, pets etc.  Then, Jesus clears his throat and begins to talk, and immediately, we and everyone else around us grow quiet.  We have no idea what He will share with us, but we have heard enough about this man to know we need to listen.

The problem is that Jesus’ first words just confuse us.  He begins by saying, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”   Matt. 5:3 (NIV).  What in the world does He mean?  Is He telling us to not make any money so we will be poor?

I don’t think Jesus is talking about our finances in this first Beatitude.  He is saying that if we are humble; if we realize that without our Savior we are nothing, we will be blessed.  To be poor in spirit means that on our own, we can’t obtain enough or do enough to earn God’s love.  We can’t live a life which is good enough all on our own because we just don’t have what it takes.

This is a hard truth to accept in our society today.  Our culture is all about “me” and living for ourselves.  The world tells us that we can do anything if we just try hard enough. The sky’s the limit if we believe in ourselves and do what makes us happy.  Admitting we are nothing on our own isn’t a popular way of life today.

Honestly, everyone is poor in spirit.  All of us, whether we admit it or not, are powerless without God and unworthy before God.  Romans 3:23 tells us, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  But, even though we are all poor in spirit, we won’t all be blessed.  Only those who realize their inadequacies, recognize their sinful nature and are willing to humble themselves before God will be blessed.

There were many people in the Bible who showed us what it looks like to be poor in spirit.  Remember Abraham?  We read in Genesis 18:27, “Then Abraham spoke up again: ‘Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes.’”  John the Baptist said in John 1:27, “He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”  Then in John 3:30 he said, “He must become greater; I must become less.”  These two men realized they were nothing without God.

So, what will we receive if we humble ourselves before God?  The first beatitude tells us we will receive the kingdom of heaven!   I never cease to be amazed at this fact.  The God of the universe wants to spend eternity with me and with you.  That, my friend, is surely being blessed!

Well, we may not have immediately understood what Jesus meant concerning this first beatitude as we listened to Him on the mountainside.  Surely the next one will make sense, right?  Then we hear Him say, “Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.”

Oh my…