Poor in Spirit

By Bonnie Ricks, This Day's Devotional Tuesday, May 02, 2006

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. -Matthew 5:3 NIV

What does "poor in spirit" mean? Downtrodden, depressed, sad? NO! If that were true, how could a person be "blessed"? In contrast, a person who is "poor in spirit" is a person who literally "has no power at all". A person who sees himself as literally apart from God. He doesn't depend on the "power within" as is so popular in New Age teaching today. On his own, he is powerless.

Yes, he is powerless, but he is not hopeless! The person who is "poor in spirit" knows that his strength comes only from God… not from himself… not from "the Force"… not from any “power within.” In his weakness, he turns to God for everything.

This person knows that it is better to seek after God than to gain the whole world. He doesn't seek after worldly possessions or pleasures, but rather after spiritual growth and a close, intimate relationship with Jesus. He is not prideful. He is not self-inflated. He does not boast of his own achievements, but rather attributes each and every success, whether big or small, to God and God alone.

Because this person has a spiritual perspective and recognition of his own weakness, he is more accepting of the weaknesses in others. He is not critical of others, because he knows that their power and capability and strength also come solely from God.

Are you "poor in spirit"? Are those around you? Seek this quality in yourself and in those with whom you are close. Learn the true meaning of being "poor in spirit". Make it a part of you… and be blessed.

Used with Permission