02-21-24-ESP.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 5:3

The first kingdom value Jesus chose to focus on in His powerful Sermon on the Mount shows up in verse 3. We read, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). It’s a short statement, but it contains a world of truth. Jesus begins by telling us we are blessed when we are poor. Now, I know that nobody in their right mind likes being poor. If you are a person who loves being poor, you’ve probably got a problem. Sure, some people can’t help but be poor, but it’s usually not because they want to be poor. Many of us grew up poor. I did. I’m sure many of you reading this book did, as well. We grew up without much at all. Some of us grew up eating mayonnaise sandwiches.

A mayonnaise sandwich is just that—some bread with some mayo on it. That’s all. And if your mom was finally able to get some meat to go on the sandwich, it was the bologna that would bubble up in the middle. Some of us also grew up with government-issued cheese or beans, or government-issued powdered milk. I’m sure some of you reading this book know exactly what I’m talking about. I’m also sure if you know what I’m talking about, you didn’t exactly want to be in the condition you were in at that time. You wanted something better. You wanted a different level of freedom, a greater level of means to progress in life. You wanted something more comfortable than being enmeshed in poverty. And no one would blame you for wanting that. But that’s not the poverty Jesus spoke about.

Jesus spoke of a spiritual poverty. What’s more, He spoke of it in a way that declared this spiritual poverty to be absolutely essential. He started His revolutionary sermon by saying something revolutionary to everyone listening at that time, and still today: “Blessed are the poor in spirit . . .” That last part of the phrase is key. Jesus was pronouncing a blessing on spiritual poverty. Spiritual poverty is about humility before God. It’s understanding where you are in relationship to Him—that He is the God of the universe, and you belong to Him. He wasn’t condemning money. He wasn’t condemning the acquisition of land, animals, or even stuff for a home. In fact, many of God’s choicest servants in Scripture were wealthy by today’s standards. Many of them would be considered multimillionaires today. Abraham would have fit into that category. David would have fit into that category. Job was definitely in that category. And there was even at least one billionaire in there, too: Solomon. God had no problem with giving His people financial prosperity in the Bible.

But what He did have a problem with, as indicated by Jesus’ opening statement, is using your stuff—or your wealth—to measure your spiritual status. For someone to think that God must be closer to them or love them more than the next person just because they have a nice car is to be deceived and void of the true values of the kingdom. Believing that God favors them more than others and is on their side just because they have a better job than the average Joe is to have missed the meaning of life itself. A person can be very successful in the physical realm and yet be one of God’s worst enemies. Material success does not equate to spiritual success. Sometimes the two can coincide simultaneously, but that is not always the case and should never be assumed. Jesus reminded His disciples and those listening that to be blessed in God’s kingdom means to intentionally embrace a life that is poor in spirit.

Reaction:
Describe the difference between material success and spiritual success. What are some things Satan uses to try to trick us into believing that material success is the same as spiritual success, if not even better? How can you overcome Satan’s strategies to keep you from embracing a heart that is poor in spirit?

Prayer:
Jesus, I want to embrace a heart and attitude that is poor in spirit. I do not want to live with puffed-up pride and so offend You and Your holiness. Reveal to me the areas in my life where pride has kept me from this right heart and humility. Help me understand the nature of what it means to be truly poor in spirit as I seek to align my life under You. In Your name I pray, amen.