Happy are the Poor in Spirit

The Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5) gives us a guide as to how to truly be happy.  Jesus outlines 9 different characteristics of one who is truly happy.   There is an assumption here that one has their mind focused on the kingdom of God and less upon one’s own physical, emotional and relational comfort.  The common worldview that values riches, fame and recognition is not so much the end all in terms of happiness.  Where one might enjoy some of this, it is not the most important aspects of life from a Biblical worldview.  What’s more, it is the Biblical worldview that tends to line up with behavioral health principles.  My intention is to address each of these characteristics and make a few comments concerning each to highlight the spiritual and behavioral health benefits (not intended to be an exhaustive commentary).

Happy are those who are poor in spirit –
Sounds rather bizarre and contradictory!  However, many times what seems right to us as human beings is not consistent with Biblical principles and will not likely work in the long run from a behavioral health perspective.  “Poor in spirt” implies that money and recognition are not everything.  Wealth can be taken in a minute and can become worthless in a minute when someone close to us is threatened.  There is never enough to guarantee that we will always be able to cover expenses for every contingency; therefore, our trust needs to be in the One who created us.  As our creator, our job is to bring glory and honor to Him in whatever circumstances He allows in our lives.  I never presume to know why God allows what He does, but that is not my job!  Whether poor or rich from the world’s perspective, we can be happy and feel blessed as one loved by God.
Our reliance and dependence is to be on Him – period.  If rich in wealth and recognition, then we are to rely on Him.  If poor in wealth and recognition, then we are to rely on Him.  “Bankrupt before God” is what my wife answered when I asked her what “poor in spirit” meant to her.  My first thought then was that I have nothing with which to earn or buy God’s love. God simply offers that acceptance and free gift of salvation through His Son, Jesus.  He is to increase and I am to decrease.  He tells us later in this same message (Matt 6:25-34) not to worry even about our own life.  He knows what we need and He will provide it.  When we are trusting God to provide for us, we can relax from the chasing after temporary pleasures and comparisons to the circumstances of others.
The poor in spirit are happy, because they know that theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Happy people know that they have an inheritance of heaven and all that is done here on earth is about growing the kingdom – “thy kingdom come”.  Being content with where we are while we are living out our Christ-Centered purpose no matter our current circumstances is a place of humility and dependence on God wherein we can be happy.

(Be on the lookout for “Happy are those who mourn”.  Please check back often to see new content or sign up to receive RSS email notifications with each update.  Thanks.)
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