Proud to be Poor
A few weeks ago, I signed up for an intensive Bible study class at my church called “Basic Training.” To give you an idea of this course, it’s “a 7-week course designed to equip Christ followers to live an abundant life. The study centers around 10 Biblical truths that are closely linked with the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-12.”
Keep in mind that I am a relatively new follower of Christ. I’ve always been a believer (even if I’ve doubted), but I never did anything about it. I never really even tried to grow myself spiritually. I always thought that if I was a good person, Heaven would be waiting for me. I clearly did not understand what it meant to really be a Christian. This year, however, I found a great church family that finally helped me to understand what being a Christian is really about. I accepted Christ as my savior, prayed for forgiveness from God and was baptized.
The whole point of that last paragraph is to tell you that everything I will be writing here is from the eyes of a new follower of Christ. I may not have much knowledge to share, but I definitely have perspective. I have been jaded by my past life, but with Christ and the church I am learning to become more un-jaded. I am searching for enlightenment and understanding just like everyone else. I am just coming into it with probably more naïveté than most of the other bloggers you may read here on Moms of Faith.
My first real lesson during “Basic Training” was that it is a good thing to be “poor in spirit.” The first Beatitude tells us, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). To me, this concept seemed a bit strange. It was so backwards in my mind. I accepted Christ into my heart and he saved my soul. Doesn’t that mean I am no longer “poor in spirit?” Doesn’t that mean that I am now spiritually fulfilled?
Hardly.
The pastor that was teaching the “Basic Training” course put it into perspective for me. “To be poor in spirit means to have desperate need. This is how we all come to God.” I get it now! As long as I am poor in spirit, I have a need for God’s love and the freedom that comes along with it. Where would I be if I no longer needed God’s love? If I was no longer poor in spirit, what would that mean? I don’t even want to know. I’m content in my neediness.
I need God’s love. I need God’s provisions. I need God’s forgiveness. I need strength. I need courage. I need so much. I need so much more than I can do for myself. There is no chance that I will ever not be needy. And, as hard as it is to rely on someone else (even God), it is something that must be accepted as one of God’s children. Thanks to “Basic Training” and the conversations we had in our small groups, I more fully understand this neediness and I know that I will always be “poor in spirit.”
And I am proud to be poor.
Copyright © Lindsay Chung, Moms of Faith, All Rights Reserved
I’m so glad I found your blog. I have been a Christian since 2003 and have always felt I was newbee. What I mean by that is that I’m always in a learning mode, eager to learn more.
Have a blessed week.
You know, now that I think about it…I think we’re all basically “new believers” in the sense that we are always learning and there is always room to grow in our faith. I don’t think you will ever meet anyone who has nothing left to learn…Especially where God is concerned.
Amen! NONE of us “have arrived” and we should remain humble and always willing to learn and grow. God is always teaching us and we will not be perfected until the day we sit at the feet of our Beloved Jesus!
Thanks Lara. Like I said in this post, I am proud to be poor and eager for more knowledge and understanding of God’s word and his plan for my life. It may be a difficult path, but it’s the one with the most rewarding end-goal.
Great post!