“Poor in Spirit”

Matthew 5:3

"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
 

Said a blind man as he felt of an elephant’s tail, “It feels very much like a rope.”

“It is very much like a tree,” said another blind man as he felt of the elephant’s leg.

A third blind man felt of the elephant’s side and exclaimed, “It is like a wall.”

Many people are just about this blind to the meaning of real happiness. They pursue happiness in things and with other people only to learn that they’re not really happy.

There is a logical spiritual sequence throughout the Beatitudes. As is the case with the first of the Ten Commandments, the first beatitude is the key to understanding the other seven. All other Christian characteristics grow out of being “poor in spirit.”

Be careful, there is a poor-spiritedness that is so far from making men blessed that is a sin. This is a poor-spiritedness that comes from not knowing or not wanting to know Christ Jesus. What Christ Jesus is speaking of here is a gracious character of soul, by which we are emptied of self, in order to be filled with Christ Jesus.

So what does it mean to be “Poor in Spirit”? It is to quit being confident in your own righteousness and strength, so you may depend totally on the Christ Jesus for your justification, and the spirit and grace of Christ Jesus for your sanctification. What is the result of this emptying yourself and being refilled with Christ Jesus?

I. Happy are those who realize their spiritual helplessness.

The Greek word for “poor” is derived from the root that means to “crouch.” It carries the idea of a beggar crouching on the street to beg from those who pass by. It is the picture of a person who realizes that they need help and they throw their self at the mercy of their benefactors. A Christian recognizes their spiritual needs and sees their self as they really are.

In the parable of the prodigal son, the younger son left his father and brother because he felt that his father was no longer capable of telling him what to do. But “when he came to himself” he returned to the waiting arms of his loving father (Luke 15:17). 

Without Christ Jesus we can’t truly answer the three greatest questions of life: Where did I come from? What am I doing here? Where do I go afterwards? 

Only when you recognize your spiritual helplessness in answering these questions can you find real happiness.

II. Happy are those who see themselves as God sees them.

As a sinner. “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way;” Isaiah 53:6. ^“for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23. There is nothing we can do in and of ourselves to change this. Isaiah 64:6 says, “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags;” 

As an object of God’s love and concern. Every person is made in the image of God and is capable of fellowship with God. And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. And God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. Genesis 1:26 – 27 

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 

Pride is the opposite of this beatitude. During the Battle of the Wilderness in the Civil War, Union general John Sedgwick was inspecting his troops. At one point he came to a parapet, over which he gazed out in the direction of the enemy. His officers suggested that this was unwise and perhaps he ought to duck while passing the parapet. "Nonsense," snapped the general. "They couldn't hit an elephant at this dist--." A moment later Sedgwick fell to the ground, fatally wounded. – Today in the Word, August 30, 1993.

Religious pride. Some believe that they are saved by their own good works. God’s plan of salvation, however, is completely by grace ... through faith. “for by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, that no man should glory.” Ephesians 2:8 – 9. 

Intellectual pride. Many are proud of what they know. How sad that some have never realized that “Knowledge puffs up ... And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know.” 1 Corinthians 8:1 – 2 

Material pride. Pride in material things keeps many people busy trying to keep up with the Joneses only to learn that when they have caught them they have refinanced and started again! How sad that some have never realized that “a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” Luke 12:15 

"For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matt 16:26

III. Happy are those who accept the will of God as the goal for their lives.

The promise of this beatitude is “theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” The kingdom of heaven comes in your life when the will of God is being done. 

God’s will is being done when God is reigning in the heart and life of the Christian. Our Lord taught us to pray, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done” (Matt. 6:10). He challenged us to “seek . . . first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness” (Matt. 6:33). When people realize their spiritual helplessness and see themselves as God sees them, the will of God can be done in their lives.

Conclusion: A dashing knight longed to rescue his princess, who was imprisoned by a cruel enemy in the palace tower. He devised a plan and recruited two small friends to send her a message. First there was Claude Caterpillar, who was a hard-working fellow but crusty and sour. He started inching his way up the wall toward the distant window, but it was hard work. He grumbled that the sun was hot, causing him to sweat. Then the sun withdrew behind a cloud, it started to rain, and he complained even louder about the raindrops. Finally he heaved himself onto the window ledge, looked at the fair maiden, and said, “Hey, you, come over here. Are you the lady in distress?” She nodded. Claude gave her the once-over and said, “You’re kidding. You mean I climbed all the way up here for the likes of you? Well, the knight says to get ready, he’s coming for you at 5 P.M. sharp. Think you can remember that, or should I repeat it?” And off he went.

Next, the knight sent Barney Butterfly. Barney, too, battled the rain and the contrary winds. He had almost made it to the window when a bird came by and nearly ate him alive. But finally he fluttered in, landing softly on the lady’s finger. “Lovely and favored maiden,” he said, “the white knight loves you dearly, and tonight he is coming to rescue you. He asks only that you be ready at 5 P.M.”

The princess smiled and replied, “Thank you very much, Mr. Butterfly. You are very sweet, and I will be ready tonight when he comes. Claude Caterpillar already brought me the message, but tell me, why was he so disagreeable? He brought me the same news, but after he left, I felt worse than before he came.”

The butterfly replied, “Oh, you mean Claude? Well, don’t mind Claude. That’s just the way he is. I used to be that way, too, until I was transformed.”

When you are truly “Poor in Spirit” you empty yourself and are transformed by Christ Jesus and filled with the Holy Spirit.