Poor In Spirit

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven,"  Matthew 5:3.

What does it mean to be poor in spirit?  I think it means that in any situatuion, rich or poor, you are humble, you don't look down on anyone less fortunate than yourself.  You may think that's easy but is it?  Anyone can give to the poor and come away feeling good about themselves.  Five dollars to a homeless person and a, "God bless you."  But it's a little harder to walk away with the feeling, "That person is my equal."  It's only by the grace of God that you are the one giving and they are the one taking.

James was talking to all Christians when he wrote James 2:1-5, "My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism.  Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in.  If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, 'Here's a good seat for you.'  But say to the poor man, 'you stand here or sit on the floor by my feet.'  Have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?  Listen, my dear brothers:  Has God not chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love Him?"

So next time you see a person less fortunate than you, look on them as you would look on a rich man because in God's eyes they are rich, rich in faith.

James goes on to say in James 2:8, "If you really keep the royal law found in scripture, 'Love your neighbor as yourself,'  you are doing right.  But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers."

Paul also talks about the poor in 2 Corinthians 6:10, "sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor yet making many rich; having nothing yet possessing everything."

So whether you are rich or poor, love one another as equals and you will be pleasing to God.