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Luke 6:20
In this first of the “Beatitudes” Jesus is referring to those who are not necessarily poor as being without earthly desires, but more importantly, poor in spirit. The connection is that we must realize our need for Jesus and the need to follow God’s will for our lives before we can ever open our hearts to Him. We must be poor in spirit and come to an understanding that we, as human beings, are in need of the spiritual guidance of God’s Holy Spirit working in our lives – we must realize the need for salvation in Jesus. Once we open our hearts and minds to believe in Him and accept His forgiveness, He will send His Holy Spirit to live within our hearts and we will become a child of God. The Apostle John teaches us in John 1:12-13, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name; who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 3:3 states, “Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’” And in John 3:5, “Jesus answered, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.’” Jesus states in John 4:23-24, “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
This is an example of God’s definition of being poor.
Our earthly desires for the things of this world have overridden God’s definition for what truly is the meaning of “poor,” which has an everlasting effect on our souls. As we try to fulfill our earthly desires by the things of this world such as money, fame, and power, our ability to accept the fact that in them we are still “poor” in spirit diminishes. Those who have less of earthly things are more able to realize the need for salvation in Jesus because lacking earthly things lowers the pride and arrogance that typically comes with them. However, Jesus does not say that one who is “rich,” in referring to finances, cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. But He instructs us that we must put and keep our focus on Him, not on the money. Matthew 19:23-26 states, “Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.’
When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, ‘Who then can be saved?’
But Jesus looked at them and said to them, ‘With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’” The number one thing that we all need to do in our earthly lives is to put and keep our focus on Jesus. Whether it be on money, or fame, or power, or anything other than Jesus; that focus puts that earthly thing above Jesus. That is of Satan, and that is what caused Satan’s fall from heaven.
Satan wants us all to fall as he did, and the presence of pride and arrogance that comes with earthly things are two of the main tools he uses to keep us away from realizing that we are poor in spirit. If we do not realize that we are poor in this earthly world, we will never enter the kingdom of God.
Dear Lord,
Please help us to not be overcome with the desires of this world but help us to put and keep our focus on You and salvation in Jesus, that whatever may come our way we will be able to bring glory to You as Your children and receive the reward of Your kingdom. Please help us to realize that being poor in spirit is to realize our need for Jesus, that we would invite Him to live in our hearts and that He would shine through our lives to all those around us. In Jesus name I pray, amen.