Matthew 5: 3
Blessed are the Poor in Spirit 

Verse 3 is my text for today. It is about humility, which, it is said is the only virtue that when you know you have it you have just lost it. The N.T. does not really have a word that exactly corresponds with our word "humility" or "humble." Some have translated the word down in v.5 as "humble." The older versions call it "meek," but it more accurately means "gentle" in its usage in the N.T., as I will say in a couple of months. The word here, "poor in spirit" is closest to what we mean in our word humble.

I. FIRST, THINK ABOUT WHAT THE VIRTUE OF HUMILITY IS NOT.

1. "Poor in spirit" is not associated with the ostentatious humility of those who would offer themselves as a door mat either for the purpose of being thought as humble or because they have such a self hatred that it gives them pleasure to be humbled. We know that these things are perversions of humility both because of the way the Christian life is described in the N.T. and because of the way extremely godly characters carried and behaved themselves in the N.T. record, not to say also, by the example of godly people through history.

2. This Biblical "humility" is not lack of poise or lack of self confidence or the deliberate marring of the image of God as many well-intentioned monks engaged in during the early years of the history of the church. One thinks of Simon who spent a long period buried up to his waist in sand to humble himself. Another seeing a louse fall off of his body picked it up and put it back where it could bite him and so increase his humility. Another stared at the sun until he was blind so that he would be helpless. But true humility does not destroy but ennobles the person that has it. It does not destroy creativity and personality and humanness but unleashes it and enhances it.

We have the personal example of the Lord Jesus during the days of his flesh. He is the standard of a truly humble man, yet he was competent, unintimidated, sometimes dealing harshly when the situation demanded it, yet displaying in hundreds of ways a true humility as the incarnate Son of God.

Are you humble; are you "poor in spirit" and consequently pronounced blessed? Well, if you are, you will probably be aware of how limited the virtue of humility is in your life and hopefully, you will not bless the world with a book on Humility and How I Attained it along the lines of all these books about Success and How I Attained it, How to Be a Charming and Beloved Person, and the like that fill the shelves at the religious bookstore.

II. THIS ``POORNESS-IN-SPIRIT'' IS BOTH A RELATIONSHIP TO GOD AND TO OTHERS.

1. In relationship to God it is the basic key to accepting of the Gospel as God defines it. Especially "blessed is the poor in spirit" with regard to his relationship to God.

2. Being "poor in spirit" is allowing God to define the terms of the gospel and the refusal to think of oneself as an equal partner with God in one's salvation. "Poor in spirit" is a disavowal of all self righteousness that might conceivably commend oneself to God. It confesses sin and sinfulness and never in the same phrase says "but you know how good I have been," or, "you know all my good points." It gives God the credit for any perceived virtue saying that it is all of grace. It is what is known as repentance which is the negative side of faith and is a reflection of one's being "poor in spirit" - bankrupt -- as far as having something to offer to God as a contribution to his salvation.

3. In the Christian life the person who is "poor in spirit" is quick to say that every redeeming quality of his life is all of grace

Twas grace that brought me safe thus far 
and grace will lead me home.

III. "POORNESS-IN-SPIRIT" IS MANIFESTED IN SOCIAL SITUATIONS; i.e., HOW YOU RELATE TO OTHER PEOPLE.

1. It is the opposite of pride which vaunts itself over other non-Christians and Christians alike, show-casing itself; putting down the other person; using the other person for its own glorification, sometimes moving through masses of people as a tornado goes through a woodland leaving an ugly scene of sticks and stumps of other people's feelings.

2. "Poorness-in-spirit" is loath to get into competition with others -- especially other believers -- for titles and positions of prestige but is willing to do acts of service and fulfill roles that are thought to be -- and truly are -- far beneath it. Instead of being preoccupied with what might have been it is profoundly satisfied that it may serve even if it is in a lowly place.

3. "Poorness in spirit" is content with the lowly place just as long as it is convinced that this is the place God would have it to be and, in fact, rejoices that it may serve in imitation of its master who, though "being in the form of God thought that being on an equality with (God the Father) was not a thing to be grasped but took upon himself the form of a servant. And being found in fashion as a man he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.''

IV. WHAT IS THE INCENTIVE FOR OUR CULTIVATING THIS POORNESS OF SPIRIT?

1. This is clear: "Theirs is the kingdom of heaven." It is verbally clear, but what does it mean?

2. It certainly does not mean that if you develop the virtue of humility enough you will be given the kingdom of heaven for a reward. For salvation is "not by works done in righteousness which we ourselves have done, but according to his mercy he saved us." "For by grace are you saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God lest any man should boast."

3. I suggest two ways in which the "theirs is the kingdom of heaven" is relevant to the supposed blessedness of the "poor in spirit."

One of those ways is as a statement of fact. It is a description of the citizens of heaven. If you find a truly humble person it is almost surely because he knows the Lord and is a citizen of his kingdom. This is so because pride, the opposite of humility, is almost a common denominator of unredeemed mankind. The humility, along with all the other works of the Holy Spirit in our lives, is a confirmation of the status we have as saints.

The other way in which the "for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven" is relevant is as a consolation. The humble person will often be taken advantage of and kept down in this life. He will see his peers push ahead on the strength of their own pride and will have considerable thoughts about his renouncing of pride espousing the way of the humble Jesus. "Why, O why," he will say, "does not God exalt his child as a result of his love for him?" Oh, God will exalt him, for sure. But it is likely that it will be in the eternal heavenly kingdom, for that is where God settles his accounts, not in an earthly venue! How many times do we see a wealthy, comfortable, proud, rich-man and contrast him with his servant or employee who is a believer in Christ. In this world the proud and even the haughty usually have their day. In the world to come things will be the exact opposite: "Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." In that day it shall be conclusively and gloriously manifested.