I am becoming more convinced than ever of this: Jesus Christ, and his radical Sermon on the Mount would not be received in most western evangelical churches today. Don’t misunderstand me, there are many sermons and teachings today that are based on and steeped in truths taken from this wonderful message, but they are easily mishandled if we overlook the first powerful truth stated here:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
The word “blessed” means simply to “be happy.” Jesus is making an announcement. He’s saying, “I’ve got some good news for you! If you’re poor in spirit, you can be happy, because the kingdom of heaven is yours! Let’s face it, in most of our minds we would never equate being poor in spirit with being happy. Those two words just don’t seem to go together.
It would have made much more sense to me if he had said, “Blessed are those who are having a good day and have everything going their way.” Instead, he’s saying “Blessed are those who seem to be helpless, powerless, and utterly unable to figure it all out.”
In a culture where powerful people are given a place of prominence and even worshiped in some cases, the poor in spirit are rarely celebrated. But only the poor enter the kingdom. Only those who fully recognize their need for God get the kingdom. The misfits, the destitute, the orphans, and those who haven’t figured out how to box God up in a nice little neat and presentable package. The Apostle Paul understood this also:
“You’ll remember, friends, that when I first came to you to let you in on God’s master stroke, I didn’t try to impress you with polished speeches and the latest philosophy. I deliberately kept it plain and simple: first Jesus and who he is; then Jesus and what he did – Jesus crucified.
I was unsure of how to go about this, and felt totally inadequate – I was scared to death, if you want to know the truth of it – and so nothing I said could have impressed you or anyone else. But the message came through anyway. God’s spirit and God’s power did it, which made it clear that your life of faith is a response to God’s power, not some mental or emotional footwork by me or anyone else.” (1 Cor. 2:1-5 The Message)
I remember being in Belize a couple of months ago, praying for people with hopeless physical ailments night after night, and realizing that all my biblical knowledge and understanding was inadequate and reduced to the simplest of prayers – “Jesus heal him.” I could give a demonstration of my power, or I could stand aside and let him demonstrate his. He did, and many people were healed and set free.
I don’t know exactly how all that works and I like it that way. I don’t have it all figured out and that leaves room for me to learn. That gives me unlimited access to the kingdom of heaven. Being poor in spirit is not something we lose when we enter the kingdom. It’s a state of being that we stay in so that we continue to experience that kingdom, thus causing others to be drawn into this kingdom.
We only come into the kingdom one way – poor. Do you want to be Christ-like? To be Christ-like is to be filled with Christ. To be filled with Christ is to be emptied of all self-sufficiency. I love the way the Message puts it:
“You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.”
Perhaps the best policy would be to just not have your own rope. Have the Vine instead. Stay connected to the Vine instead. There is life in the Vine. There is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. That, my friend, is the kingdom of God.
I’ve tried living in the kingdom of “me.” Every now and then I take a trip back to that place and I’m reminded just how dull and boring that life can be. I like his kingdom better. If we overlook this first beatitude, then we’ll be left standing at the door, looking in at this vast kingdom, and missing the fullness of life he so longs for us to have.
Poor and happy,
Kevin