Avis WooleyMatthew 5:3
Most of us know about this chapter in Matthew, The Beatitudes. I was compelled to investigate or look more into this verse, so here it goes.
“And seeing the multitudes, he (Jesus) went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: and he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” I stopped there, not moving on to the other verses because it began to speak to me in a way I did not know before.
At any given point in our lives, we will fall into one of these categories of The Beatitudes. We will mourn the loss of someone dear; we will suffer persecution at the hands of others; our lives will seem hopeless, and we may be without for a short period, etc. Every word of Jesus speaks comfort and assurance that he has the solution for whatever we face.
I wanted to know more concerning the poor in spirit! What does it mean to be poor in spirit? What is Christ saying to us? How can these words relate to me? I began to pray and ask for revelation knowledge. I pondered over those words.
As a young follower of Christ, I thought back to the times I spent reading his word, making difficult decisions, and learning how to stand on my own two feet. I kept a humble spirit about myself. I knew that I could not make it without his help and guidance, so I leaned heavily on the Lord. Reflecting, I saw something in me that kept me grounded. It was an innocence and love for Christ that I cherished. I wanted nothing more but to please him and not to disgrace my family, myself, and most of all, my God.
I want to quote some words from the late Evangelist Billy Graham. Apparently, there were others who had the same question as me. He answered their question as follows:
But Jesus also said that there is another kind of spiritual poverty—one we should seek. He said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). What did He mean? Simply this: We must be humble in our spirits. If you put the word “humble” in place of the word “poor,” you will understand what He meant.
In other words, when we come to God, we must realize our own sin and our spiritual emptiness and poverty. We must not be self-satisfied or proud in our hearts, thinking we don’t really need God. If we are, God cannot bless us. The Bible says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6).
Pride can take all kinds of forms, but the worst is spiritual pride. Often the richer we are in things, the poorer we are in our hearts. Have you faced your own need of Christ? Do you realize that you are a sinner and need God’s forgiveness? Don’t let pride or anything else get in the way, but turn to Christ in humility and faith—and He will bless you and save you.
Now, I better understand that it is about humility. As long as I kept myself humble before the Lord, I knew that all would be okay. I knew that I needed not be full of pride or full of myself. The Word of the Lord was all I needed to help me through. I kept my treasures simple; they were focused on heavenly things. I knew that I had to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and everything else would fall into place.
It is still true for us today: We seek first his kingdom, and in return, we experience the kingdom of heaven. Now, may the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ minister to you at the point of your need. You will find the answer you desire to fulfill the call on your life and walk in the spirit of humility, for the kingdom of heaven is yours.
Humbly submitted by Avis Wooley
January 11, 2025
