Oh to be poor in spirit!
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Jacob
Jan 6, 2012, 7:50:08 PM1/6/12
to ChristLife
Jesus said that His kingdom belonged to the poor in spirit (Mt.5:3).
The more we become poor in spirit the more we can fit into His
kingdom. But unfortunately this attitude is being removed out of many
Christians' minds by the modern trend of confessing we are strong!
Admission of need or weakness is considered to be a sign of lack of
faith. People are taught to proclaim they are strong and in need of
nothing whenever they sense some need in their lives. The apostle Paul
who knew both weakness and strength was able to distinctly understand
that while he was weak in himself he was at the same time able to draw
on Christ's strength (2Co.12:10). He was honest enough to recognise
and admit that he had many weaknesses, and then he was able to receive
strength from Christ, unlike many now who profess strength in Christ
without acknowledging their own weaknesses. He knew within himself
that it was only through Christ that he was able to do all things (Php.
4:13), and that without Christ he was nothing.
When we are poor in spirit we know that we know only a little and then
we are willing to learn. We know we are making many mistakes every day
(Jas.3:2), and we are therefore willing to learn and change. We are
willing to listen to others who may teach us many things. We recognise
the possibility that some things we believe and practise need to be
changed. We cannot look down on anyone because what we are and how we
exist are only by the grace of God.
It is one of the paradoxes of Christian life that when we recognise we
are weak we experience the strength of Christ. This means that we are
not grovelling in the dust bemoaning the fact that we are weak and
nothing, but we are walking about boldly and confidently doing the
will of God. We don't attack or retaliate, but we are not going to be
doormats letting others walk over us. If some Christians are taking
one extreme position of 'denying' all weaknesses and acting as if they
are only strong, some other Christians are passively taking things as
they come and letting others do whatever they like to them.
When Jesus told us to 'turn the other cheek', He was trying to teach
us that sometimes in the process of loving our enemies we might have
to face evil and suffer from it unjustly (Mt.5:39,44). But He did not
mean this to be taken as a commandment to be obeyed literally, because
He Himself did not turn the other cheek when He was slapped (Jn.
18:22,23). He conducted Himself before His enemies with such dignity
and confidence that they were afraid of Him!
But having said this I think that the current trend among Christians
is more towards 'positive' thinking--putting away all negative
thoughts (such as admitting our needs or weaknesses!), telling
ourselves we are strong (not so much about 'in Christ'!), and making
us believe that we are indeed strong!. This kind of 'self-esteem' in
the absence of poverty of spirit takes us away from the kingdom of
God! Oh to be truly poor in spirit!
The more we become poor in spirit the more we can fit into His
kingdom. But unfortunately this attitude is being removed out of many
Christians' minds by the modern trend of confessing we are strong!
Admission of need or weakness is considered to be a sign of lack of
faith. People are taught to proclaim they are strong and in need of
nothing whenever they sense some need in their lives. The apostle Paul
who knew both weakness and strength was able to distinctly understand
that while he was weak in himself he was at the same time able to draw
on Christ's strength (2Co.12:10). He was honest enough to recognise
and admit that he had many weaknesses, and then he was able to receive
strength from Christ, unlike many now who profess strength in Christ
without acknowledging their own weaknesses. He knew within himself
that it was only through Christ that he was able to do all things (Php.
4:13), and that without Christ he was nothing.
When we are poor in spirit we know that we know only a little and then
we are willing to learn. We know we are making many mistakes every day
(Jas.3:2), and we are therefore willing to learn and change. We are
willing to listen to others who may teach us many things. We recognise
the possibility that some things we believe and practise need to be
changed. We cannot look down on anyone because what we are and how we
exist are only by the grace of God.
It is one of the paradoxes of Christian life that when we recognise we
are weak we experience the strength of Christ. This means that we are
not grovelling in the dust bemoaning the fact that we are weak and
nothing, but we are walking about boldly and confidently doing the
will of God. We don't attack or retaliate, but we are not going to be
doormats letting others walk over us. If some Christians are taking
one extreme position of 'denying' all weaknesses and acting as if they
are only strong, some other Christians are passively taking things as
they come and letting others do whatever they like to them.
When Jesus told us to 'turn the other cheek', He was trying to teach
us that sometimes in the process of loving our enemies we might have
to face evil and suffer from it unjustly (Mt.5:39,44). But He did not
mean this to be taken as a commandment to be obeyed literally, because
He Himself did not turn the other cheek when He was slapped (Jn.
18:22,23). He conducted Himself before His enemies with such dignity
and confidence that they were afraid of Him!
But having said this I think that the current trend among Christians
is more towards 'positive' thinking--putting away all negative
thoughts (such as admitting our needs or weaknesses!), telling
ourselves we are strong (not so much about 'in Christ'!), and making
us believe that we are indeed strong!. This kind of 'self-esteem' in
the absence of poverty of spirit takes us away from the kingdom of
God! Oh to be truly poor in spirit!
Allan
Jan 7, 2012, 9:38:06 AM1/7/12
to chris...@googlegroups.com
I believe everything about Self should be crucified
That is why the Bible says we should crucify the flesh and carry the cross
Self-esteem
Self-help etc should not be encouraged in the body of Christ
We should be Jesus-esteem
Jesus-help
stay blesed
B A Berean
Jan 7, 2012, 5:32:40 PM1/7/12
to ChristLife
Amen and AMEN!!!
Very, VERY well said!
Death to "self" it is ALL about JESUS!
Bob Dallmann - group moderator
Rae of Hope
Jan 9, 2012, 5:22:33 PM1/9/12
to ChristLife
Thank you so much for this message. It bought so much peace to me and
lifted my spirits so high. There is nothing wrong with admitting we
have weaknesses, and when you love Christ it is often these things
that bring you closer to Him/His Kingdom as you stated in your
message. Christ wants us to come to Him in times of trouble and I
always do and He brings me through and I walk away feeling a lot more
closer to Him. And, I commend you for reminding us of how Christ
conducted himself with dignity before His enemies and confidence, and
I have come to find that often they will cower before those who follow
suit in such a manner. Whether we are weak or strong matters not-what
matters is that we grow closer to Christ through it all and once again
thank you for posting such a beautiful and inspiring message.
lifted my spirits so high. There is nothing wrong with admitting we
have weaknesses, and when you love Christ it is often these things
that bring you closer to Him/His Kingdom as you stated in your
message. Christ wants us to come to Him in times of trouble and I
always do and He brings me through and I walk away feeling a lot more
closer to Him. And, I commend you for reminding us of how Christ
conducted himself with dignity before His enemies and confidence, and
I have come to find that often they will cower before those who follow
suit in such a manner. Whether we are weak or strong matters not-what
matters is that we grow closer to Christ through it all and once again
thank you for posting such a beautiful and inspiring message.
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