The Poor Ones Get In First

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

Would you like to be known as a "poor" person? How would you feel if people suddenly started treating you as if you were poor? Most of us, if we're honest, would NOT be very pleased to be labeled as poor.

Jesus told a story once about a guy named Lazarus (see Luke 16:19-21). He was so poor that he couldn't afford medical treatment, so his body was covered with running sores. He had no money to buy food, so he would crawl under the table of the local billionaire in hopes of finding some crumbs that might have fallen there. That is, unless the dogs got to them first. Then, even the dogs seemed to mock him by licking his sores.

Now that's poor. Ready for a shock? The same Greek word which is used here to describe Lazarus is also used by Jesus to identify the first and most important mark of a Changeling.

The "poor in spirit." In other words, those who are spiritually bankrupt, destitute, empty-handed, impoverished, inadequate, incomplete, insufficient, lacking, lowly, miserable, needy, pathetic, penniless, pitiful, weak, worthless. I could go on, but you get the idea.

Not a very attractive list, eh?

I dare you to read that list out loud...and to start it by saying, "I am...."

I'm serious. Go ahead and do it. I'll wait.

Now, why do those words feel like a slap across the face?

There's only one reason, and it's called pride.

See, most of us have a real difficult time viewing ourselves as someone who is needy. We'd much rather be known as someone who's "got their stuff together" and is doing quite nicely, thank you very much. Even if it's not true, we want people to think it is.

But that's exactly our problem...and if we don't stop thinking this way our pride will stop us from receiving the kind of changes God wants to make in our lives. Why? Because God only helps those who actually WANT His help.

The truth is, we are completely helpless and hopeless without the Lord. The more you realize that fact, the more you'll appreciate just how much you need Him. And that's the essence of being poor in spirit: knowing that there's practically no limit to what you lack and what needs to be changed in your life, and admitting you're truly desperate for these changes to occur.

But here's the good news. For those of us who are willing to take on this posture of humility, there's practically no limit to what God wants to give us! To the poor in spirit He promises to give His kingdom--which includes pretty much everything He owns.

In fact, Jesus really nails this point down when He revealed who God considers to be the absolute best example for us to follow:
He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." (Matt. 18:2-4)

So how about it? Can you honestly say that's really your goal in life...to grow up and become...a child? Or have you bought in to society's values of ambition, money, position, power, etc....

What I've discovered is that if I truly want to be someone who embraces change, especially God's kind of change, this is where I must start. Here's what I suggest you do: make a list of the kind child-like qualities you think Jesus is talking about here, and then ask Him to "build" those into you--to change you so you'll always trust and follow Him.