Poverty of Spirit

Poverty of Spirit

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matt. 5:3.

People these days excel in everything but poverty in spirit. That is why so very few are fit for the kingdom of God.

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” 2 Tim. 3:1-5.

Do you know these people? Do you turn away from them? Or are you one of those who regard a form of godliness as being the only true godliness? Lot was vexed in his righteous soul because of all the ungodliness that he saw and heard. Today we can also experience vexation. Everywhere we look, we see lawlessness sneering back at us. Nothing is holy and pure. Even those who should know better call self-denial and the way of the cross bondage and non-biblical doctrine. So what can we expect from everyone else?

If you are poor in spirit, then preserve this poverty. Press into it, for the voice of the Chief Shepherd can only be heard in poverty of spirit.

Turn away from those who have a form of godliness but deny its power. Seek righteousness. Hunger and thirst for it, and you will find it. Not everyone who talks about righteousness is born of God, only those who practice righteousness. Do you practice righteousness? Let us examine ourselves to see if we are actually practicing it. Is it a joy for you to practice righteousness, or is it a source of sorrow and bondage? We don’t have meetings just for the sake of having meetings. Instead, we use what we hear to live a better life. We don’t write articles in this paper just to fill up space. We write so that people can learn something, and so that their daily life can become better and more holy.

Fight the good fight of faith, and you will meet opposers—especially among religious people. That’s where Jesus found His opposers, as did Luther. If you are afraid to fight, you are not fit for the kingdom of God, because everyone who is afraid to fight the good fight of faith will be overpowered by those who are under Satan’s power. We are exhorted to take the Sword of the Spirit, while the cowardly advise us to put the Spirit’s Sword back in its sheath. It is only fitting for us to wage this battle in the midst of our poverty in spirit, for the kingdom of God does not consist of word but of power.