The Journey Continues: The Poverty of the Spirit

My journey this week took me to Jim Baker, a follower of Jesus and old friend, who presently resides in Johnson City. I quote some scriptures he gave me about this week’s subject — poverty.

Psalms 35:10 — “My whole being will exclaim, ‘Who is like you, O LORD?’ You rescue the poor from those too strong for them, the poor and needy from those who rob them.”

Psalms 82:3 —“Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”

Psalms 10:15 — “The wealth of the rich is their fortified city, but poverty is the ruin of the poor.”

Isa. 61:1 — “The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.”

Matthew 5:3 — Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Jer. 22:16 — “He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?” declares the LORD.”

Acts 10:4 — "Cornelius stared at him in fear, ‘What is it, Lord?’ he asked the Angel, who replied, ‘Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.’”

From an “Invitation to Adult Bible Study” booklet, I quote: “Poor people are often helpless and hopeless. They need help but don’t have any hope of getting it. A person may be enslaved to a habit, a disease, poverty, or something else. Whatever makes a person feel hopeless is the thing needed to be freed from… and Jesus wants to do the necessary healing/change in a person’s life to bring hope, liberty, and well-being to the inner man. “

The change in life that comes about when a person encounters the Living God is dramatic. Shame, fear, sins we commit, love of our self or our own lifestyle and poverty stand as “blockers” to a genuine connection to the Spirit of the Lord God. When someone finally removes a block and comes to the place of “Let go and Let God” then, God’s touch brings the feeling of being “born again,” which is the Good News!

Do not forget — regardless of your economic status or place in your community — the worst kind of being poor is spiritual poverty.