Jesus said these words first in the Sermon on the Mount, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Being poor in spirit is the very first and most important work of the Holy Spirit in the heart of a sinner. This is the very first lowly rung on the sacred golden ladder to New Jerusalem. You see, a man must be made poor in spirit, before he will ever seek the Savior. Only the poor in spirit, those who have no money spiritually, will come to the Cross and be made rich from the hand of the Crucified Creator. The poor in spirit are always needing a Heavenly Handout from the merciful Mediator. The only reason any man may think he can help save himself from sin is simply because the Holy Spirit's work has yet to make him poor in spirit.As the surgeon seeks for the sick in body, and as the alms-giver looks for the poor man, even so the Savior seeks out those poor souls that need Him, and upon them He bestows His goodness and mercy (the instantaneous forgiveness of sins, and irreversible eternal life). The Lord Jesus' eyes of compassion and favor rest only upon hearts that are broken and spirits which are humbled before Him at the bloody Cross of Calvary.
The poor in spirit have no means spiritually to make it through this world on their own. You must be emptied of self-esteem before you will ever be filled with the Holy Spirit. Not what you have, but what you have not, will be the first contact between your soul and Jesus Christ, God manifest in the flesh. The self-righteous bring their goodness to the Cross, and the religionist brings his ordinances, ceremonies, and sacraments to Calvary; but they are all turned away, because they are trying to save themselves. There is none righteous, no, not one. The poor in spirit come to Jesus with their utter destitution and soul distress, and He accepts them at once. The unregenerate man spiritual statue is dire penury having nothing to offer but his own sins and guilt. A poor man must be willing to beg, or he will die in his impoverished state. The poor man is totally dependent upon charity.
Have you ever been made poor in spirit by the Spirit of God? The divine law of God convinces us of our moral and spiritual poverty by showing us how sinful we are in thought, word and deed on a daily basis. The working of the law tears away our imaginary wealth of self-righteousness, shows us our awful sin debt, and brings us to self-despair. You discover you do not have a single penny of goodness in your pocket. How poor are they that think themselves rich in spirit, and how rich are they that see themselves to be poor in spirit! You must save your life by losing it, and you can only be made rich by first becoming poor. The natural man toys with religion, but he puts the Gospel out of his mind and practically avoids and ignores it due to his love for sin. This is the Gospel paradox that confounds the carnal mind. Believe it or not, your highest attainment spiritually is to be poor in spirit.
Poverty in spirit is the doorstep to Heaven - that is, a humble view of yourself, and a high view of Christ Jesus. You must first see your wants before you will perceive the Savior's unsearchable wealth and beauty. By nature, all of us are poor in purity, truth, faith and love to God. The Holy Spirit must first make you conscious of your great spiritual need. You should be seeking this spiritual poverty much more than any earthly riches. Jesus will never be precious to you until you are sincerely poor in spirit. Pride blinds your eyes, but contriteness opens them. Your many deficiencies will lead you to Savior's infinite sufficiency. The smallest diamond is worth far more than the largest boulder.
Christ Jesus hath filled the poor in spirit with good things; and the rich He hath sent empty away. But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: make haste unto me, for thou art my Help and my Deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God. Jesus supplies my spiritual wants freely. For the Lord Jesus Christ shall save the needy soul when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper. He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy.
Bow down thine ear, O Lord Jesus Christ, hear me, my heart is wounded within me: for I am poor and needy. God raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill. But mine eyes are unto Thee, O LORD JESUS CHRIST: in Thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich. Have you ever been made poor in spirit by the Spirit of God?
