Christ was poor in spirit. He taught us in Matthew 8:20, “The Son of Man hath not where to lay his head.” Also in Matthew 6:19-20, he said, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.” He also told us to seek the kingdom of heaven, and warned us against covetousness, Luke 12:15 “And he said unto them, take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” He told us many parables that teach us not to seek the riches of the world but to eek the righteousness of God, such as the man who was rich and built greater barns to hold his riches. Another great example was of the young rich man who came to him. Christ told him to sell what he had and to give to the poor if he wanted to be perfect. The young man couldn’t do it and went away sorrowful. He gave up instead the kingdom of heaven and held on to the things of the world. Christ said that it was extremely hard for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven.
When we talk about poor in spirit we must talk about covetousness. You can see how the law of God is interrelated. A person who is poor in spirit does not love the things of this world. They do not greatly desire them or esteem them. They are not seeking to be rich. Because this is their mind and heart, they do not find it a difficult thing to give to others. They wear this world like a loose garment. Riches and possessions are not in their heart. They do not value people higher because of wealth or possessions. They value the things of God. This is why when we first teach the children of the meaning of poor in spirit we tell them it means to share. A person who is not poor in spirit will find it difficult to give alms. They will find it difficult and a burden to pay their tithe. They always have other plans for their money. A person does not have to be rich to fail at being poor in spirit. They simply have to love the things of this world. Many times they are greedy. But even if they are not trying actively to become rich, if they are not willing to give, to share as we teach the children, they are not poor in spirit.
One of the first of the testimonies exemplified by the church after the Pentecost was the spirit of poorness.
Please read
Luke 12:13-40, Matthew 19:16-30, Acts
2:37-47, Acts 4:31-37 & Acts 5:1-11
