THE POOR IN SPIRIT

I once remember during my first year in grad school when one of the professors referred to this phrase. There was some confusion on the meaning of it. What exactly does it mean to be poor in spirit? Wiersbe (2007) first begins with what it is not. He first says it does not mean poor spirited. What he means by this is that it does not mean having low self-esteem. There is a lot of that today. Having done over 900 hours in mental health settings there are many who have poor self-esteem. When the passage says blessed are the poor in spirit, it does not mean blessed are those who have poor self-esteem. Wiersbe goes on to say it does not mean shyness. Shyness, as I can see is not a state of blessing. Then Weirsbe adds another misconception that I think merits some reflection:

"Neither is the detestable, groveling attitude that we call mock humility. The classic example is Uriah Heep in David Copperfield, who was always reminding people that he was "but a very humble person." In a more refined way, we see this mock humility in the people who deny about themselves what everybody else knows is true. I once worked with a Sunday school teacher who had a great gift of working with children, yet she would deny it every time it was mentioned. "Oh, I can't do anything!" (p. 32). Wiersbe calls this attitude mock humility. It is a kind of false humility. It is not being true. I sometimes feel uncomfortable when attention is brought on to me and when others say positive things about me. In an attend to deflect the praise, I often say that it was nothing or put the attention on to someone else. This is a kind of false humility. Further along, Wiersbe makes this powerful statement: "Who can tell God anything about himself that God does not already know? And, after all, God made us, and God is able to empower us to do whatever He calls us to do. Denying that we can accomplish God's work is not humility; it is the worst kind of pride." The example of Moses is mentioned when he gave excuse after excuse to God for leading the people of God out of Egypt. This is not to say that I cannot sympathize with Moses. Forty years in the middle of nowhere has the ability to place doubt into one's abilities. Right now, as I am in this state of uncertainty with my knee situation, I continue to wrestle with the reality of my usefulness. There is pain when I walk. I cannot leave the house without first taking pain medication. This has a way to bring negativity deeper and deeper into one's thought patterns. Yet, if I believe in a sovereign and all-knowing God I must believe that whatever God calls me to, God will empower me to do.

Before going on to greater detail Wiersbe ends this section by some brief comments. "Being poor in spirit means knowing yourself, accepting yourself, and being yourself to the glory of God. It means knowing yourself—your strengths and weaknesses, your hidden desires, your ambitions, your spiritual gifts and natural abilities—and being honest with yourself. When I was in grade school, I almost developed an emotional disorder over sports. Both of my older brothers were capable athletes, but I am not, and every time the boys in my class chose sides, I was the last one chosen." There are three things: knowing, accepting, and being. Knowing involves both who I am and who I am not. This is significant. Wiersbe knew he was not an athlete like his brothers. How often that happens when one has siblings. Both my brothers are in finance. They work with numbers. As an Asian American who is not good at math, I seem to be part of an odd minority. I chose the humanities in which there were few Asians. Being poor in spirit means taking an honest assessment. No, I am not good at math. I'm not good at sports either. I am a thinker, a writer, a philosopher, and listener. I've been sight impaired since the day I was born. Accepting this has been a challenge every day of my life. Yet poverty of spirit involves acceptance of who we are which includes those things we cannot change. I am certain that God knew exactly what He was doing when He created each person. I love how Wiersbe concludes this section: "To be poor in spirit does not mean to deny your personality or try to suppress it. It simply means yielding it to God for Him to make it all that He wants it to be. The motto is old but true: "God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him."" (p. 34) No one is without weaknesses, sins, or imperfections. Poverty of spirit does not mean dwelling on these things,. Rather, it involves bringing these to God in prayer.

In the next section Wiersbe describes the characteristics of humility. This is a very helpful and descriptive section. Wiersbe first says humility is evidenced by the acceptance of others. "When others succeed you are happy for them; when they fail you try to encourage them. If I find myself happy when they fail and sad when they succeed, then I am not poor in spirit. I am proud. When young David killed Goliath, King Saul was glad to get rid of his enemy and honor David, but when David started slaying his ten thousands in contrast to Saul's thousands, then the king became envious and angry" (p. 35). This is a counter cultural attitude. I imagine this happens in business. Sadly it happens within siblings. When one's competition fails it is natural to rejoice. It is something else to rejoice with those who succeed. This morning on the radio was a brief segment on the power of yes. It was on parenting and the point was for parents to be enthusiastic and encourage children in their interests and in their accomplishments. Wiersbe goes on to a second characteristic:   

"Another evidence of poverty of spirit is accepting circumstances. When circumstances do not go my way, do I become angry and critical? Am I always trying to manipulate people and circumstances for my own benefit and comfort? Or am I willing to give in to make things easier for somebody else? Do I cut corners and pull deals to accomplish what I want in life? Paul said, "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances" (Philippians 4:11) (p. 36). I think this one is the hardest for me right now. And for several reasons. I am four weeks now out of grad school and every attempt at a job interview or application has failed. My knee pain has not gone away but has only increased at times. These circumstances are hard to accept. It is easy to become negative and discouraged. 

The third characteristic Wiersbe lists is having the right attitude about things. He quotes Paul: "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty" (Philippians 4:12). This too can be difficult. We are a consumerist culture. The Internet Phone has been around for several years now and I sometimes think about having one. I think this can also relate to relationships. If I had an attractive spouse I would be happy. This places contentment on circumstances. If the addition or subtraction of things change my attitude than it means that things have control over my life.

The fourth characteristic listed is accepting God's will for our life. I am starting to notice a pattern on how difficult each of these are. This is a great summary of the previous others. God's will includes all that we have and all that we are. When I was taking a full load of six classes plus 20 hours of internship a week I was not glad to be in that position. I did not fully appreciate the gift of that season until the last two weeks. Now, I miss that time when I was placed in that position.

The next brief section is on consequences. Wiersbe tries to answer how being poor in spirit can be a blessing. Humility in our time is not a valued virtue. Those who appear to succeed are those who rise to the top no matter the cost. He first lists that humility is Godlike. Christ humbled Himself in obedience to His Father even to death. Wiersbe then goes on to say that humility is the condition in which God can work. "It is difficult to conceive of a Christian growing in grace apart from humility. True poverty of spirit is the soil out of which the fruit of the Spirit can be cultivated. "This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word" (Isaiah 66:2). Certainly the seed of God's Word could never be planted in the hard soil of a proud heart. "teak up your unplowed ground and do not sow among thorns" (Jeremiah 4:3) (p. 39). I think of the parent-child relationship. It is impossible to teach and train a child who is proud, critical, and doesn't listen. Humility is essential for spiritual growth.

Wiersbe concludes with the conditions of humility. The first is to accept God's estimate of ourselves. He says it is necessary both for salvation and necessary as we mature as Christians. Prior to salvation we agree with what the Bible says about who we are, sinful and fallen before a holy God, unable to save ourselves. We are not to think too highly of ourselves and at the same time not too lowly of ourselves. The second step is to yield yourself to God and get our strength from Him. The victorious Christian life is done not by will power alone. It is a journey with God and empowered by His Spirit. The third step as Wiersbe lists is to focus on Christ and His blessings. He makes reference to Peter in Luke 5. Peter spent all night and could catch no fish but when Christ gave some instructions, Peter caught an enormous amount of fish. We need to keep our eyes on Christ to keep proper perspective. The fourth step is to look for opportunities to serve others. Regarding service Wiersbe writes: "Do not look for big opportunities "worthy" of your abilities. Those will come in due time. The great saints of the Bible started as servants, not rulers, and they were faithful over a few things before God made them kings. Moses tended sheep; Joseph was a steward; David was a shepherd; Jesus was a carpenter. Live with the eye of God upon you and forget the praise of others. Serve faithfully in the hidden place, and in due time God will lift you up. Every opportunity for service is an opportunity to exercise sovereignty in Christ. We reign in life by living to serve, to the glory of God." (p. 45).

Prayer:

Father, this chapter was like a mirror. I see who I am now and see who I want to become. I confess that I find it so hard to accept my circumstance. Whether it is my sight, my joblessness, my knee pain, or things I do not have now, It is so hard to accept these circumstances. Yet, I trust that You are in charge over each detail. I trust that You care and will provide even for the needs that have not been satisfied. It is a constant journey to humility and I look to Christ for the example, strength, and wisdom for each moment. I pray for opportunities to serve and the willingness to accept Your leading.