The Blessing of being Poor

The Beatitudes of Matthew’s Gospel Chapter 5 detail to the true believer in Christ what it truly means to live the life of a true believer. He summed up what it means to truly live in the Kingdom of God, to be a true believer and to truly know God. There are many that profess to believe in Christ, but as one really looks at one’s life, the true evidence of salvation is, “Do I live out the Beatitudes?”

The first of these beatitudes is being “Poor in Spirit.” Christ opens up verse three of Chapter 5 with the word “Blessed.” What do you think of when you think of the word “Blessed?” Do you think material wealth, a bigger home, luxurious cars, better high-paying job? All of us would love to have these things. But is that what Christ was talking about? Was He emphasizing to us the American Dream of Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness?

The word “Blessed” in this text means a “supreme blessedness of happiness.” It can also be translated as “spiritually prosperous.” Here is a very important question: Do you have the inward spiritual desire to be spiritually prosperous? Christ said that in order for us to be spiritually prosperous, it begins with being poor in our spirit.

What does it mean to be “poor in spirit?” It does not mean to be materially broke, financially poverty stricken or homeless. It means to broken in your spirit or soul. It means that you have come to a realization that apart from God’s grace and mercy and His Sovereignty, you are broken and poor and are underneath the wrath of God. (John 3:36) In order to be poor in spirit, you must acknowledge three things. 1) Acknowledge that you are utterly helpless before an Almighty and Sovereign God. 2) Acknowledge our utter lack in facing life and eternity apart from an Almighty and Sovereign God. 3) Acknowledge our utter lack of superiority before all others and our spiritual deadness before an Almighty and Sovereign God. The opposite of being poor in spirit is being full of pride in you. Who is your focus in life upon, you or God? The great Puritan preacher Henry Scougal said this quote in his book “The Life of God, “The worth and Excellency of a soul is to be measured by the object of its love.” Who or what is the object of your love? Are you poor in spirit? If not, pray and beg for God’s mercy to help you to become poor in spirit and that He will become the focus of your love.