There seems to be two extremes in that title which is taken from Jesus’ words in the “sermon on the mount.”
Matthew 5:3 (ESV) — 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Before we consider the “poor in spirit,” let us consider the word “blessed.” This is a word describing someone as being in a privileged state or a happy recipient of divine favor. OK, but why is the blessing said to be on the “poor in spirit?” Sometimes to understand a concept you need to look at the opposite. What is opposite of “poor in spirit?” Think of the “proud or rich in spirit” or those who think themselves to be rich, when in reality they aren’t rich toward God. Case in point: the church of Laodicea as mentioned in the book of Revelation.
Revelation 3:17 (ESV) — 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.
Those who are poor in spirit realize their state before a holy God and feel desperately in need. According to Jesus’ proclamation, to have that understanding is a door open for further blessing and to feel that sense of poverty before God is a blessing in itself.
Isaiah 57:15 (ESV) — 15 For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.
Jesus compared the two attitudes in His illustration of a Pharisee and a tax collector praying:
Luke 18:9–14 (ESV) — 9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
The attitude of the world is to demand your rights and to make sure you do not give in because you deserve the best. In God’s economy, however, there is grace to the humble (poor in spirit), those who realize anything they have received is because God’s unmerited favor extended to them through the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, there is no place for pride or a demanding spirit, instead gratitude in realizing no matter what we have received, it is far better than we deserve.
1 Corinthians 1:30–31 (ESV) — 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
Here’s the testimony of the apostle Paul who lived his life in utter amazement that God would shine on him with such favor:
1 Corinthians 15:8–10 (ESV) — 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.
1 Timothy 1:12–16 (ESV) — 12 I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, 13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.
Do you see a trend? A person who sees their unworthiness does so by God’s grace which is a blessing, but seeing their unworthiness opens God’s treasure chest of further blessings in understanding God’s grace, enjoying God’s grace, and living by God’s grace. That makes a person who is “poor in spirit” highly favored.
No wonder the apostle Paul speaks of these blessings as “the unsearchable riches of Christ.”
Ephesians 3:8–12 (ESV) — 8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, 10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.
Too often we focus on our worthiness as if we achieved anything that would cause God to shine upon us with favor as in earned favor with God. What we ought to focus upon are the vast blessings and riches that come to us every day by God’s grace and favor, thereby producing an attitude of gratitude. After all can anyone say that they have earned any favor from God? I think not.
1 Corinthians 4:7 (ESV) — 7 For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?
Are you poor in spirit? It doesn’t mean you go through life grumbling and putting yourself down. It does mean that you realize according to God’s standards you deserve His wrath not His favor, so you turn to Him and trust His only solution and that is by faith seeking His grace and favor that is yours only through the accomplishment of the Lord Jesus Christ, by whom God extends His blessings as Jesus said, “blessed are the poor in spirit.”
Godspeed,
Bob Brubaker, Pastor
Christ Community Presbyterian Church
Clearwater, FL
