Defining the Poor in Spirit

'Tis the season.  Yep, time for political signs, attack ads and bullet-point rehetoric.  It's election season.

As I view each of the candidates, they each, in their own way, say similar things. What's the answer for your problems? More government regulation, more legislation and better policies. All of these things, according to the people running for office, will make your life easier and help you significantly.

Among their words is the discussion of the poor. Who is poor?  Who is rich?  Who should be taxed? Who should be helped?

But really, who is poor?

In Matthew 5:3, Jesus said we are all poor.  We are poor in spirit. He defines poor, not by wealth or means, but by our utter need for the presence of God in our lives.  We are all created with a hole that only God can fill.  We are God-poor. We need him and only Jesus can provide a relationship with him.

It's the foundational statement in the Beatitudes. Those who are poor in spirit, when they recognize their lack of a relationship with God, will seek him out.  Those who seek out a relationship with Jesus will inherit eternal life.  For the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

As we discuss the poor in our nation and those lacking in resources, we must consider our own lives.  We, like everyone else, are poor in spirit. We need the presence of God in our lives.  We need Jesus Christ.  No government program or tax or credit or job or status or political candidate will ever fill that need.  Only Jesus can.

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