Spiritual Poverty
Matthew 5:3 TPT
3 What wealth is offered to you when you feel your spiritual poverty! For there is no charge to enter the realm of heaven’s Kingdom.
You are blessed when you feel your spiritual poverty! Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of God. In other words, when we have needs, this is when we can be loved and ministered to. We need each other and it is right for us to be there for each other so that the Lord can love us through one another. The word “blessed” is implied here, but in the Greek it is the word waylon which has an even greater meaning. It means—great happiness, prosperity, abundant goodness, and delight! The English word “bliss” captures all of this meaning. The essence of what our verse is saying is that there is a capacity to enjoy union and communion with God. The meaning goes beyond merely being “blessed,” as in the use of it in the Beatitudes. Jesus was speaking directly to His disciples. He was implying that the poor in spirit have only one remedy, and that is completely trusting God. The door to the Kingdom realm is having total reliance upon God. When you feel your spiritual poverty, or humble in spirit,” or “poor in spirit,” it means to be humble and completely dependent upon God for everything, great and small. Some synonyms would be “pious” or “saintly,” not just the feeling of those who are poverty stricken having nothing. It could be translated, “Delighted are those who have surrendered completely to God and trust only in Him. Within the same day I have ministered to folks in the ghetto in the morning hours and dined with CEOs in penthouses in the evening. Honestly, I have felt more at home with those who, from no choice of their own, were living in squalor than those with servants and expensive foods. Yet both the poor and the very rich had great spiritual poverty! Things one has or doesn’t have can never satisfy your soul. Nothing can meet that deep, deep, longing for the Lord other than the Lord Himself. You could own the cattle on a thousand hills and the wealth in every mine, and still be one of the most lonely, empty souls on the face of the earth. Whether rich or poor, high or lowly, it is good to feel your spiritual poverty! This is when the greatest wealth that can be found, and the greatest wealth in all of time and eternity, can be sought and received from our heavenly Father. And here’s the best news—it is ours for the asking. Just open your heart and tell the Lord how needy you are, spirit, soul and body. He hears you and already knows every thought before you cry out to Him. Open your heart to Him today and enter into the realm of the heavenly Kingdom.
What about you? Are you spiritually poor today? Maybe you haven’t asked Jesus into your heart, today’s a good day to ask Him to come in. Maybe you’re weary and tired. Tell it all to Jesus. He is the Refresher and Refiller of our beings and will fill you again today to overflowing. Remember, there is no charge and there’s room for all. Have a great day in Him today.
