“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven..." - Jesus (Matthew 5:3-11)
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The above passage and hymn have recently convicted me in the fact that I am prone to put trust in myself more than God. So often, we tend to put our hope in human self-efforts and turn to the Lord when those go awry, but the Gospel teaches us a different way of approaching life. Jesus says, blessed are the POOR in SPIRIT. Blessed are those who rely on Christ and Christ alone to keep on going. Blessed are the destitute, for they shall receive the riches of the Kingdom, far surpassing anything we could ever ask or even think to ask for! Blessed are those who live life in a way that says, "I am nothing of myself, but Christ to me is everything I could ever need." Perish every fond ambition! All I've sought or hoped or known!
I say, "I am poor, Lord! I know that I can do nothing without you! I need You!" And I sing the hymn over and convince myself that all is good, and that my full assurance rests in the Lord my God, and that I am well on my way to inheriting the kingdom of heaven. But do I live out what I believe? Do I even believe what I say? James says in the second chapter of his epistle that faith without works is dead. DEAD. Not living. I tremble at the thought that my actions often do not reflect that which I say I believe. You know, I sit here and think, if I were truly carrying my cross, I doubt that I would even be able to lift it, let alone carry it. Yet I give off the impression that I carry it, meanwhile employing sneaky methods to make it seem like I am just so good at this whole Christianity thing. If I were truly doing what I say I am doing, I would be on the ground by now, weak and helpless, and Jesus would be helping me limp along, bearing most of the weight of my cross. If I were truly poor in spirit, I would be totally surrendered to the fact that I cannot make a single decision on my own without asking Jesus to help me make it, and I would be waking up every morning, knowing that if I don't come to Jesus there and then, I cannot make it though the day. If I were POOR, I would have nothing to BOAST in, save Jesus and Him crucified - and what is that but foolishness to the world around me? I would be complete and utter foolishness for Christ…
And yet, I continue to live as if I've got wealth to share. Oh, and my ambitions are very good, and I strive to do what's best. My best, however, is still the worst compared to all the righteousness and perfection of my Lord. Corrie ten Boom said it well: "The foolishness of God is the greatest wisdom." I could reverse that and say: "My greatest wisdom is absolute foolishness." That statement could be interpreted in two ways and still be true…
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Jesus, I my cross have taken,
All to leave and follow Thee;
Destitute, despised, forsaken,
Thou, from hence, my all shalt be.
Perish every fond ambition,
All I’ve sought, and hoped, and known;
Yet how rich is my condition,
God and Christ are still my own!
All to leave and follow Thee;
Destitute, despised, forsaken,
Thou, from hence, my all shalt be.
Perish every fond ambition,
All I’ve sought, and hoped, and known;
Yet how rich is my condition,
God and Christ are still my own!
