“He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, And considereth not that poverty shall come upon him. He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour Than he that flattereth with the tongue. Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression; The same is the companion of a destroyer. He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: But he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat. He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: But whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered. He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: But he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse. When the wicked rise, men hide themselves: But when they perish, the righteous increase.”
Proverbs 28:22-28 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/pro.28.22-28.KJV
Hope for the Poor in Spirit
Jesus began His famous Sermon on the Mount with an upside-down perspective and eight counter-cultural blessings—commonly known as the beatitudes.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 5:3 ESV
To be physically poor is to lack resources or material possessions. The word "poor" might trigger a mental image of someone who can’t pay their bills, can’t break free from the cycle of poverty, or can’t afford food, clothing, or shelter.
So what does it mean to be spiritually poor, and why does Jesus think that’s a good thing?
Those who realize their own spiritual poverty know that, without God, they are spiritually bankrupt. Those who are poor in spirit understand the desperation of their situation—that they can have nothing, do nothing, and be nothing without Him. Those who are poor in spirit recognize that it’s humility, not pride or self-reliance, that’s a ...