The Poor in Spirit

The Poor in Spirit

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Everyone knows what it means to be poor in earthly goods, and this poverty always causes them to be anxious and to complain. Such people can never be comforted. Many people turn to God in their need and pray for help. They call themselves believers, but their need is an earthly need. God is very gracious and lets the rain fall on the evil and on the good, and many such believers can speak of great miracles and answers to prayer. When you hear all this, it usually revolves around visible things—things that the body needs.

Only a few people are aware of their poverty in spirit. Generally speaking, people do not know what that is. Nevertheless, this poverty is their real need, and this is what makes it so burdensome for them to live their lives.

The virtues of Christ are riches for our spirit, and we have been chosen to proclaim these riches. 1 Pet. 2:9. Moses came and proclaimed earthly riches for the body—the riches that could be obtained by keeping the law. Deut. 28. However, Jesus was the first One to proclaim riches for our spirit, saying that those who acknowledge their poverty of spirit are blessed. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Matt. 5:4. We can be truly comforted by these riches for our spirit. How blessed it is when we find someone who mourns over the fact that he is poor in the virtues of Christ, someone who hungers and thirsts after righteousness. Jesus wants to help such people. They can be helped. They will be comforted.

The reason for a burdensome life is sin—not the others’ sin, but our own sin. It is our own impatience, wrath, and lack of mercy that makes it so hard to bear the others. It would be easy to live if one were richer in spirit—had more patience and mercy.

First, people suffer because of a bad conscience. There are things in their life that are not cleared up, and in addition to that, they remember all the bad things others have done to them. These are two heavy burdens that people usually bear and that make it hard for them to live their life. Jesus died for our sins, and if we confess our sins, He is faithful and cleanses us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9.

Many people make use of this promise to get rid of their heavy burden of a bad conscience; but they continue to bear the other burden—the others’ sin. Why is it so difficult to forgive? Because one is so poor in spirit. One has so little mercy. But blessed is the one who mourns over his poverty; he will be comforted. He will receive grace from God to forgive the others and forget the evil. For him life becomes easy to live.

Jesus says that if we do not forgive the others, we are not forgiven either. Matt. 6:15. Many people are deceived on this point. They believe that their sins have been forgiven, but they hold on to the others’ sins.

God’s kingdom consists of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Rom. 14:17. People have no understanding of these riches for their spirit, and so they act like the heathen: they talk about food, clothing, and money. Jesus says that we should not be anxious and talk about such things, but rather “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Matt. 6:31-33. If we have an abundant share in the virtues of Christ, we will also have what the body needs. If we are in communion with God who has created all things, we can live a carefree life. No one can take our joy from us if we become rich in our spirit. Then we can let our sun rise over the evil and the good, and we can let the rain fall over the just and the unjust. Ch. 5:45. Then it is wonderful to live. Jesus began by proclaiming these riches for our spirit. He decked the table with them, and blessed is everyone who hungers and thirsts. There are riches in abundance!

Only a few people have this light. Most live in this darkness: that if only they had more earthly riches, everything would be better. They do not know that if we have riches for our spirit, we also have what the body needs—without strife and anxiety. It is also a fact that very few believers are grounded in this light. Therefore it is so very necessary to let the light shine.

In 1 John 2:12-14 we read what glorious believers John writes to, and yet they needed the exhortation in verses 15-17, that they should not love the world, neither the things that are in the world, because then the love of the Father would not be in them and they could never be comforted.

May God raise up many workers who are rich in the spirit and who are constantly increasing in these riches. 1 Tim. 6:11. Only such people can proclaim the gospel in the power of the Spirit and help people in their need.