Impoverished Soul

Jesus began speaking, not the the multitudes, but to his disciples. In verse one of chapter 5 its states that "[Jesus saw] the multitudes he went up a mountain: and when He set, His disciples came to Him.." The Sermon on the Mount was never meant for the masses. It was meant for the Lord's disciples, those who are called by His Name. To those on the outside looking in, out lifestyle is nothing more than rubbish. It is interesting how most of the world condones "an eye for an eye" but to "turn the other cheek" is nonsensical. The Sermon on the Mount was never for the masses, rather, it was for those who are called by His Name. Jesus began this dissertation with:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:3 (NKJV)

Poor is spirit. Webster's defines "poor" like this: 1. Lacking money and possessions. 2. Lacking in quantity or quality. 3. Not productive. 4. Not favorable or satisfactory. 5. Deserving pity. As we look upon the poor, it is easy to see how this definition shapes our view. But remember, the Beatitudes are "one's spiritual state of being".

The Bible's definition of poor has a different connotation: 1. To be reduced to beggary. 2. Destitute of wealth, position and honor. 3. Utterly helpless. 4. Broken.

To be broken before the Lord, to be utterly helpless, to be destitute of honor or position or wealth, to beg. When one has need of nothing because of money or power, he may never come to the place of the beggar.

I feel that it is very significant that Jesus began with this exhortation. We begin our life in Christ with a request; we must first ask Him into our hearts. We must come to the knowledge that there is nothing in and of ourselves that is worth anything.

To be poor in spirit allows me to ask the Lord to "pour in Spirit". In order to do so, however, we must come to that place of beggary and destitution. We must become like a child, helpless.

The second half to the Beatitude is "a direct and opposite, or complementary, spiritual effect coming from an outside source."

Theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. Becoming poor, we will inherit so much more than we could have possibly imagined. We can gather out toys together, amass riches, but you will never see a U-Haul truck following a hearse.

It is an interesting oxymoron that beggary should lead to riches, helplessness lead to salvation and a true mending can only come from being broken.