There are blessings inherent with living above the poverty level.  I wake grateful for these.  Physical health, a godly husband, a home, a job…these are blessings.  But I had the distinct impression this morning that God’s greatest blessing have nothing to do with these things. Yes, I am meant to be grateful for all He has given me here and now, but not to assume these blessings are the end in view.

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Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.—Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?—For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.

Have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:  who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;  rather, He made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross!—as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things.

Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked…

I have come to judge the world.  I have come to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.

…I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us in the heavenly realms
with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son…

Mt.5:3ESV; Ja.2:5NASB; II Cor.8:9NASB; Phil.2:5-8NIV; II Cor.6:10NASB; Rev.3:17NASB;  Jn.9:39; Rev 3:18 ESV; Eph.1:3ESV; Rom.8:28-29ESV

The poor in spirit stand to inherit God’s kingdom, not merely this world’s good things.  Physical blessings are meant to turn our hearts in gratitude and humility to God who means to do in us far greater things than we can ever do for ourselves, whether by plenty or by want, by prosperity or persecution.

By His Spirit He opens our eyes to see our deepest needs and to long for His righteousness to displace deep-seated habits of the heart.  When we realize how powerless we are to change our hearts to see the world as Jesus does we are in line for a blessing.  Blessed are the poor in spirit… For this I am grateful!

–LS