The Road to Poverty

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for their’s is the kingdom of heaven” Matthew 5:3

The road to poverty is one all children of God will travel, sooner or later. For there is no other way there than to travel this road. It is the way…to the kingdom of heaven.  What is this road? And why must the true children of God travel it?

Poverty is not something we like in rich America, or anyplace in the world. For which one of us does not aspire to riches. Some may not care about money, but we all seek riches in their many forms and fashions. Riches may be strength, health, beauty, family heritage, loved ones, self confidence, self righteousness, a code, a creed, a cherished reputation, a talent or skill, one’s accomplishments, material possessions, or a devoted love for one’s self. It is sustenance in some form that we would hope on, place our trust upon, revel in. But what is the road of poverty? That is another story. A sad one, one where you will mourn, suffer loss, become dependent, feel pain.

The road to Christ, a true awareness and faith in Him from the heart is paved with sorrows, lack and need. For to find Him, in truth, or more accurately for Him to find you, there must be this acknowledgement of our utterly destitute state without Him. It’s the beginning of understanding the magnitude of our depravity in view of His holiness. Just a glimpse, for we can never truly come to a full understanding of this truth in the carnal wicked world in which we live. Only in heaven will we see this truth as profoundly as it is.

Blessed are the poor in spirit. Who are they? How did they get there? They are the ones who lack in spirit and know it. They may be the forgotten one, the drunk, the glutton, the homeless person who no one cares about, or that rich widow sitting alone day after day with no friends, no loved ones anymore. It’s that person who suffers need and is desolate. In a word poor. The one who sees how fragile they are, how needy they are, how desperate they are for love, for forgiveness.  These poor souls don’t hope in themselves, or money, or anything or anyone life has to offer, for they have long given up on all of that, they hope in God. For He is their only hope. They are poor! They cannot help themselves. They are blind beggars on the street corner of life, crying  out, to God. God hears them. God sees them and loves them, as they are without money to pay, or works to offer. He sees them in their helpless condition and He loves them and He takes them in His arms, in His care, because they believe on Him. They believe on the Saviour Jesus Christ, with out works to pay for His love and acceptance,  but rather in the freeness of His love for them.

Why do these poverty stricken people find what seems to elude most of the world? Because they need it a little bit more. They are desperate that’s why, a desperate poverty stricken broken heart hungers more, and believes because it’s his only hope, his last hope. They dont have anyplace else to go. That’s why many people come to Jesus finally, it’s their only hope. Because….they are poor. That is why Jesus said He came to preach the gospel of the kingdom of God to the poor, because the one trusting in riches can’t get there from here, until they find themselves on the road to poverty in whatever form it takes.

Should you find yourself on the road to poverty, and you recognize the Saviour of the world on this road, because that’s where He is, Rejoice! For if you place your hope in Him alone, your destination will be the greatest wealth you could ever possess.

In the end the reality is that every single person will one day experience the road of poverty, either in this life or the next. Because the truth is, without Christ we are all horribly poor, whether we know it or not.

“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” John 3:17