Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. (Matthew 5: 3)

One of the main things that seems to frighten some people as they approach acceptance of Jesus Christ and the gift of salvation is the notion that they might have to give up all their possessions and become destitute. After all, Jesus told the rich young ruler that he needed to sell all he had and give it to the poor and come follow Him. And in today’s reading it would appear that Jesus is again asking the believer to become totally devoid of earthly possessions in order to gain the kingdom of Heaven.

But we need to notice the wording, “poor in spirit.” Poor in spirit is an attitude of realization that we are brought into this world with nothing, not even clothing on our back and that all things which we attain throughout our lives are gifts from God. We are given stewardship over the possessions God grants to us. Our problem comes when we begin to worship our possessions and they become our “god.”

To be poor in spirit is to acknowledge our possessions as gifts and to use them responsibly. The richest man on earth can easily enter heaven and accept the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ so long as his wealth and property are held loosely and with full acknowledgment that they are gifts from God. To be poor in spirit is to accept the humbleness of our beginnings and to know that what we attain throughout our life is simply on loan and we are charged with responsibilities in accepting the gifts that God gives us.

God of love and giving, thank You for the gifts You have given me in my lifetime. May I always remember that they really belong to You.