Beggars

I was getting off the interstate last week when I saw a man at the bottom of the exit ramp holding a “NEED FOOD” sign. I’m always stirred by different feelings when I see this – compassion, curiosity, even a bit of guilt and shame (for not doing more to help). Why doesn’t he have food? Should I give him money?

But it’s also interesting to recognize that this is the image Jesus used to start the most famous sermon ever preached. Most of his people thought the Messiah would come riding on the back of a white stallion at the front of an army of liberation. He would be strong, proud, powerful, and he would restore them to their former glory.

But his first words were nothing like what they expected.

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

Coming to God’s kingdom, Jesus said, involves first of all admitting that we are spiritually poverty-stricken. We are powerless to attain salvation, and we depend on God for everything that is good.

Beggars. That’s what we are. We come to Jesus without “a righteousness of our own” and receive that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith (Phil 3:9); “In him,” Paul writes, we “become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

What all this means is that being in the Lord’s kingdom involves emptying ourselves of pride, achievement, and accomplishment. We don’t bring our goodness to the table and exchange it for forgiveness. We don’t bring our impeccable morality and integrity to the Lord and hope it’s enough to be saved.

“Poor in spirit” means recognizing that there is “none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10), including me.

It means admitting that “no one understands; no one seeks for God,” that “no one does good, not even one” (Romans 3:12)… including me.

That is very hard for most of us.  Naturally, I want to point to a few of the good things I’ve done. I want to compare myself to some of society’s dregs and take a little pride in, “Well, at least I’m not like that.”

That’s why pride has always been the biggest obstacle between us and salvation. It takes our eyes off of God and puts them on us.

You can’t be a part of the kingdom until you recognize that you are utterly dependent upon God for salvation. Blessed are the spiritual beggars, for theirs is the kingdom.

Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to the cross I cling; Naked, come to Thee for dress; Helpless look to Thee for grace; Foul, I to the fountain fly; Wash me, Savior, or I die. . . . When I soar to worlds unknown, See Thee on Thy judgment throne, Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee (Augustus Toplady).