Justin Matthew Reid

Bible Teachings - Who are the poor in spirit?

Hello saints,

Today I was meditating a bit on Matthew 5:3. The Sermon on the Mount is one of the most well known portions of Scripture. Christ spoke those words, not that we would just know "of" the words but that we would *know* those words by living them. With that in mind, how can we live Matthew 5:3? What Christ is asking of us in this verse is more than we are currently living, no matter how far we've gone. I think that's very safe to say.

Everything I say is aimed at my own heart first and foremost. I also send this out to you with the prayer that it will spur you, the Body of Christ, to be God's and God's alone.

Matthew 5:3

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

What does it mean to be poor? The greek word that is translated poor in this passage is used elsewhere in the New Testament largely for describing people who are poor in finances and means of this world. Here, the word is applied spiritually. Whoever the poor in spirit are, they possess the kingdom of heaven.

A poor person lacks something. A poor person has a real need.

To reverse this passage, we might say: Cursed are the rich in spirit: for theirs is NOT the kingdom of heaven. The rich in spirit have no place in the kingdom of God. If we ever become rich in spirit, we'll not be fit for the kingdom of heaven. It's clear from this context that the 'spirit' referred to in this passage is not God's Spirit. Anyone rich in God's Spirit would obviously be very fit for heaven, indeed.

Did not Jesus Christ say that we MUST take up OUR cross, to follow Him? The true Christian walk is extreme. To partake of the unsearchable riches of Christ, we must empty ourselves of our former spirit. Christ will not share the deep things of God with just anyone. Only the man/woman who HUNGERS and THIRSTS after righteousness will be filled with the things of God. Are we hungering and thirsting after God's righteousness alone, or are we satisfied for a little snack here and there, when it fits into our schedule? Our schedule? Are we not bought with a price and our lives are not our own?

The poor in spirit are they who have a constant need for God. They've dropped all pride and self righteousness. They can truly hunger and thirst after righteousness because they are not full with their own ways. God can only fill us to the extent that we'll allow Him. If I'm content with being 80% filled with my own ways, that leaves only 20% for God to work with. You'd better believe that God will use every ounce of that 20% to the maximum. You'd better believe God will chip away at that other 80% until it belongs to Him!

Those that continue into eternity with God will have an unquenchable need for God. You'd better believe that we'll need God forever. No matter how much He imparts to us, there will always be more we'll need.

The poor in spirit are poor in the spirit of *this* present world. In fact, they are flat broke. Poor in the spirit of lust. Poor in the spirit of pride. They turn their spiritual pockets inside out looking for any trace of the spirit of disobedience. We have a definite role to play in working out our salvation with fear and trembling. God will not violate the will He gave us. He's entrusted us with something very precious indeed: a spirit made in the image of Himself! He put the power of our own spirit within our control and He called it a will. He gave it to us with the purpose that we'd willingly give it back to Him so that we may spiritually live! Hallelujah!

Isaiah 57:15

For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

It takes humility for a person to admit they have a need, usually. Don't be afraid to confess that need before God, continually. Life in the Son was designed to be eternal. We must continue in and with Him, or we'll lose it all. Let God have His way, today. Refuse to let the cares of this world crowd out the time you should be devoting to God alone. When you stand before the Lord on that day, the cares of the world won't be there. In fact, the world won't be there. All we can take with us is our Christian character, tried in the fire of this life. The time is short, the bridegroom comes soon.. and each moment counts. Let's be about our master's business.

For Christ,
Justin

September 17th, 2007