Did you know poverty can be a blessing?

It can.

Really.

I am going through a study on the Beatitudes right now, and right at the beginning, I read this verse…

“Blessed are the poor in Spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt. 5:3)

The commentator broke down the word “blessed” and explained it isn’t “happiness” – that is dependent on externals. “Blessing,” she explained, “depends on being rightly
related to God.”

And “poor in spirit”? That is when we recognize our own sinfulness, humble ourselves before a holy God, and truly repent. We mourn over our sin (Mt. 5:4), hate it, want nothing to do with it. This results in a humility that allows us to be rightly related to God.

And that brings blessings. Not just momentary happiness, but a blessedness that is soul-deep. Recognition of our sinfulness makes us hunger and thirst for righteousness (Mt. 5:6). That hunger and thirst is guaranteed to be satisfied.

God isn’t wanting to beat us up for our sin, but neither is He allowing us to brush it off or act like it’s “no big deal.” Our sins sent Jesus to the cross. But His love for us kept Him there. A failure to recognize the former keeps us from fully embracing the latter.

So be poor in spirit. And be blessed.