February 19, 2021
Scripture Resource Passages: Jeremiah 9 & Matthew 5
Jesus instructs disciples: “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3); and so the teaching began.
Our Common Heritage
Disciples of Jesus are people who having looked at God, notice the distinction. We are aware and confronted by our spiritual poverty. God is grandeur. We are dust.
This is spiritual perspective. Humanity is not the measure of all things. God is the establishing authority of our universe. Before Jesus taught these truths one of God’s Hebrew prophets spoke with similar words.
Jeremiah: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight, declares the Lord” (Jeremiah 9:23-24).
Though we may accumulate much in the way of the goods of this world, they are soon consumed by a Santa Ana like-wind, enflamed by drought and hours of wild-fire. Each euro or bitcoin in our spiritual wallets is consumed.
A Personal and Introspective View
Spiritual poverty is revealed in my inability to live the holy life which God desires of me. Like Adam and yes, like Eve, I dwell in spiritual poverty revealing my impoverished status.
Spiritual poverty means I am in debt. My dollars, my bund, my pound, yuan, yen or whatever denomination of currency I might employ, none are spendable. Yet, there are tasks for me and all who consider themselves disciples of Jesus.
Jeremiah described this life as he wrote that which he heard from Heaven’s court: “Administer justice every morning; rescue from the hand of the oppressor the one who has been robbed…” (Jeremiah 21:12a). Spiritual poverty does not mean I cannot act. Indeed, spiritual poverty means I am aware I have a responsibility to act acknowledging God as the Sovereign.
Life Application
If you are not a member of government, what actions are available to you in following the instructions found in Jeremiah 21:12?
Dr. Andrew Simkins 