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

                                                                               Matthew 5:3 

We can understand the concept of being poor. To be poor is to be lacking. However, today’s passage is not dealing with being materially needy rather this statement deals with those who are poor in spirit. I do not believe that “poor in spirit” means that we walk around all day with a gloomy disposition, our heads hanging low. What I do believe it means is coming to the realization that, regardless of our financial condition, we are spiritually bankrupt and in need of a Savior. Jesus led with this declaration and that should come as no surprise. I would suggest that being poor in spirit is the first step in receiving and enjoying the redemption that is found in Christ. For the proud and self-sufficient, being poor in spirit would seem very distasteful but for those who would humble themselves and admit their need, being poor in spirit really does act as the starting point for discovering true life!

Below are four passages of scripture that outline this spiritual need. Each of these truths has a compliment verse pointing us to the solution in Jesus. But for now, we will focus on the truth that every one of us should embrace being poor in spirit.

Truth #1: We have all missed the mark!

…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God… 

                                                                 Romans 3:23 

Suggesting that everyone is a sinner usually meets little resistance. I have never met anyone who would fail to admit that they have made mistakes. Ironically, it is not this reality of failure that gets rejected rather the solution to the problem of sin, Jesus Himself. “Falling short” can be defined as “missing the mark.” It can be illustrated as a marksman who prides himself in the ability to hit his target. In order to strike the bullseye at long range, adjustments have to be made. Imagine this expert making endless modifications in an attempt to hit the target only to discover that he falls short every time. This is what it means that mankind has fallen short of what God has originally designed for our lives. 

Truth #2: We have all gone our own way! 

All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way…

                                                                                                            Isaiah 53:6a

Because of “missing the mark,” we have also strayed away from God and His design. We have all made a decision to go our own way. People live their lives according to their own thinking and belief systems. Whatever seems right to them is what guides their course. For many, biblical truth is rejected. God’s Word plays no role at all in their daily decision making process. Just like sheep who tend to wander off from the fold, we have all wandered away from our Creator and His plan for us.

Truth #3: We have all broken the Law of God! 

For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.

                                                                                                                        James 2:10

It is not uncommon for people to adopt a religious or philosophical position that spiritual fulfillment and security comes from “being a good person.” After all, we can always find someone who seemingly lives a more wretched existence than ourselves. This can often lead to the comparing of our life to another. This can also act in bringing us some spiritual relief, especially if we have been convicted about our current choices and lifestyle. But this passage of scripture eradicates any opportunity for us to judge others or ourselves by our conformity to the Law of God. If we have broken any of God’s Law (as we all have done), we are guilty of breaking the whole thing. In the eyes of God, we are all transgressors of the Law. It matters not how well we think we have done or how good a person we believe ourselves to be, in the end, we are all violators. 

Truth #4: We are all under condemnation from Adam’s sin! 

So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men…

                                                                                                               Romans 5:18a

But in order to have a complete discussion about our waywardness and spiritual need, we need to understand the origin of this trouble. Our problem is not as a result of the mistakes that we have made in our lives, those are merely byproducts of the real problem: our sin nature. This problem began as Adam (the first man) ignored the instructions of God and launched mankind on a path of missing the mark and going our own way. The condemnation that came with Adam’s transgression is applied to all of mankind (who are apart from Christ). Paul’s use of the word “men” indicates that all of mankind is affected by this sin nature. By being born (physically), we are in need of a Savior.

Having established our need for being “poor in spirit,” we are now ready to complete this picture by celebrating God’s solution to this problem of sin. But until then, here is a passage of scripture to give us a preview of things to come! 

The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more…

                                                                                                Romans 5:20