Jesus began his portrait of the new humanity with the words, Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. The prerequisite attitude for receiving all kingdom blessing is being “poor in spirit.” The Greek word, ptochos, is from a verb meaning “to shrink, cower, or cringe.” It pictures a beggar holding out his cup with one hand, but covering his face with the other as he shrinks away in shame. Ptochos is not the word normally used for someone who was poor, but refers to extreme poverty, i.e. those who are utterly destitute, reduced to begging for their daily bread.
The poor in spirit are those who recognize their utter spiritual bankruptcy—their total destitution, when it comes to their own righteousness. Because they have NO righteousness of their own, they are reduced to begging God for that righteousness—both to be declared legally righteous before a holy God (justified) and to be helped to be more righteous in their everyday character (more sanctified). Here are seven ways to test whether you really see yourself as spiritually destitute beggar utterly dependent upon God’s grace for your everyday sustenance.
1) A spiritually destitute man sees the great chasm between what he has received from God and what he deserves. So his everyday life is characterized by gratefulness to his savior. “He who has been forgiven much loves much.” So, a poor-in-spirit man is fiercely loyal to the God who showed mercy on him. It’s personal. He owes a great debt of gratitude to the being who made him spiritually alive when he was dead in sin.
2) A spiritually destitute man believes he can accomplish NOTHING THAT MATTERS apart from abiding in Christ. So, he is daily dependent upon Him. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. (John 15:4.) He doesn’t read his bible and pray every day to win Brownie points or earn God’s favor; he meets with God most every day because he knows how much he needs God’s help for the day.
3) When he feels like complaining, a man who recognizes his spiritual destitution holds his tongue.He realizes he has neither the mental horsepower nor the spiritual wisdom to sit in judgment upon the good God who has ordained the circumstances that he faces. His prayer, like that of the Psalmist is, My heart is not proud, Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content.(Psalm 131:1-2)
4) One who is poor in spirit accepts criticism without becoming defensive. He does not see himself as being above the need to be corrected at times. He has a teachable spirit. He is the wise man of Proverbs 9:8: Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you, Reprove a wise man and he will love you.
5) A husband who genuinely sees himself as a spiritual beggar knows that he married up. He doesn’t deserve her. His gratefulness for his wife drowns out his criticism of her. He doesn’t tire of the menial tasks he performs to serve her. He is but a poor beggar. She, on the other hand, is a princess—the daughter of the High King. He should treat her that way!
6) One who is keenly aware of his spiritual poverty cannot be critical of the failures of others. A morally bankrupt sinner is in no position to be angry with the flaws of others. The key to patience with the imperfect people who harm us is to remember the pit from which we ourselves were dug! Forgiven people must be forgiving people.
