Are we poor in Spirit

“ARE YOU POOR IN SPIRIT?”, through which many believers evaluate themselves in terms of their spiritual wealth. Although, they are Christians, do not have complete joy in their hearts. In various conversation with others, they confess that they have been going through difficulties all their lives, thus opening doors for satan to enter and steal their joy. The Word of God, on the other hand, teaches us that in every situation we must rejoice! We often think that the reason for our sorrow is the lack of material goods and that if we obtain them, we will be happy. True joy, however, comes from loving Jesus, not from the things we amass. This means that no matter what we have in our lives, if Christ is not living in us, we will not have genuine joy.

Other people, because of their spiritual immaturity, think that every bad thing that happens in their lives is as a result of their sin. To dispel this myth, John 9:1-7: “As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’ ‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned,’ said Jesus, ‘but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.[…]’. ‘Go’, he told him, ‘wash in the Pool of Siloam’ (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing”. As we read, the reason this man was blind was so that God’s works would be revealed in his life. In other words, for God’s name to be glorified. In Exodus, 7:3-4, we also read that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart so that His glory might be revealed. So, every situation we go through is for a purpose, but when we don’t understand that purpose, we will do foolish things that may cost us our lives!

In the course of our lives we will have difficulties. Many, unfortunately, put an end to their lives because of poverty, illness, debt and other situations, the burden of which they cannot bear because they are poor in spirit. However, a time of testing is a time to strengthen one’s relationship with God, not a time to diminish it,. Therefore, it is wrong to pray: “God, do not allow this difficulty in my life”, because we must go through difficulties so that God’s name may be glorified in our lives.

Since the devil tempted Jesus, he does not hesitate to tempt us. When we are attacked, we should follow the Lord’s example by responding with the Word of God. Similarly, to become rich in spirit, we should study the Word and pray on a daily basis, for if we do not prosper in our spiritual life, and we seem to be prospering in some other areas of our life, our prosperity is questionable! Finally, apply the words so that each of us may become Christians with a difference!