Luke 6:20

Beginning the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus starts out strong by proclaiming to His disciples that those that are “poor” are considered blessed in His sight. In Matthew’s same account, he adds “poor in spirit”. I am confident that the reaction of Jesus’ disciples had to have been similar to what our reaction is like to that exact same statement today. Why on earth would Jesus call the “poor” or the “poor in spirit” blessed? Certainly that goes against our way of thinking as humans. I love that about Jesus, He came to turn around our way of thinking about most things. This would be just the tip of the iceberg. Let’s begin with the word translated “blessed” – it is the Greek word “Makarios” meaning “Blessed, blissful; Biblically, one is pronounces blessed when God is present and involved in his life. The hand of God is at work directing all his affairs for a divine purpose, and thus, in a sense, such a person lives coram Deo, before the face of God. Blessedness is sharing in the life of God, being favorably affected and influenced by God, which involves, among other things, participating in the kingdom, recompense, forgiveness, freedom of conscience, the Second Coming, the Holy Spirit, heavenly rest, and moral and spiritual purity. This is why even in suffering and pain one can be pronounced blessed, for God’s purpose behind it ensures that it is for the good of His creature and the glory of His own name.” (Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible New Testament Lexical Aids). As the creatures and NOT the Creator, we oftentimes consider our circumstances as ANYTHING but blessed! I am reminded of Paul’s words to the Corinthians:12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 1 Cor 13:12 (NIV)
Our partial knowledge will one day be displaced by God’s perfect knowledge. Sometimes what appears to be circumstantially the worst thing possible from our perspective is actually God’s grace allowing His very best. I am continuing in the process of learning to quit kicking and screaming against God’s best for my life. I have discovered much futility in “kicking against the goads”. There is always purpose for my best from my loving Father in every circumstance that He allows and for that I give Him praise. The word translated “poor” is also a very interesting word. It is from the Greek word “Ptochos” meaning “to crouch, cower like a beggar; poor and helpless; someone in abject poverty, utter helplessness, complete destitution; one who had fallen from a better estate; one so poor that he can only obtain his living by begging.” Like our original parents, by our choice, we have all fallen from a better estate and are “found wanting”. There is nothing we can muster up inside of ourselves to make it right again with God. When we come to the realization of our poverty of spirit, begging for His mercy, we are considered blessed by God. Remember what Christ said – “apart from me you can do nothing”. We need Christ for our salvation. We need Christ for our day by day, moment by moment living. We need Christ for everything! When we walk in the flesh and not by the Holy Spirit – indulging in all of our fleshly appetites, we are blinded to our poverty, our wretchedness and our nakedness. It will happen every time because it is simply human nature. That is why God calls the realization of this poverty of spirit blessed. Until we come face to face with the reality of our poverty we remain alienated from God, and that my friends is anything but blessed. Fanny Crosby, blind writer of six thousand hymns gave this statement of faith in God’s overruling hand of Providence: “I have heard that this physician (who unwittingly caused her blindness), never ceased to express his regret at the occurrence and that it was one of the sorrows of his life. But if I could meet him now, I would say, ‘Thank you, thank you, over and over again, for making me blind.’ Although it may have been a blunder on the physician’s part, it was not a mistake on God’s. I verily believe it was His intention that I should live my days in physical darkness, so as to be better prepared to sing His praises and incite others to do so.”