The Poor in Spirit

I am doing some studying/message preparation this afternoon. I have already mentioned that Jeff Cook's book, Seven: The Deadly Sins and the Beatitudes, has been a really wonderful resource for me through the series. At one point in the reading, Cook references the band Seether, who I didn't know, and a music video that they did for their song, "Fine Again."

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Have you seen that before? What a compelling illustration of sin, of what is deadly, of what is hidden, of what separates us from ourselves, one another, from our world, and ultimately from God.

In the midst of that reality, Jesus declares, "Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of God." Huh? It seems like those who are poor in spirit only have that, a poor spirit and little else. What comfort is that?

Here is what Cook has to say:

"Jesus alone shows us that our condition is not hopeless. Just as Socrates knew that the only ones who are wise are those who know they are fools, so too Jesus shows us that the only ones who are complete are those who know they are falling apart. Heaven is occupied not by those who think they have it all together. Heaven is the refuge of the infirm and mending..."

Cook continues:

"Being poor in spirit is like being part of an AA meeting where all the participants confess openly that their lives have become unmanageable. Poverty in spirit is a conversation over coffee in which tears and regrets and inadequacies cover the table. Poverty in spirit is no longer keeping the toxic things bottled up within - or merely written on signs that read, 'I disgust myself,' or 'I have shallow, unrealistic dreams.' It is ripping the tape from my mouth and confessing that I am in desperate need, that things inside me are tragically out of order and I lack the life I ought to have. Those who know they are poor in spirit are blessed because they alone know they need help - and any step toward help must be a step toward community."

Then bringing it all together, he declares that those who declare their spiritual poverty experience heaven in the real relationship that results from no longer denying need - for God and for one another.

"Here in heaven we suffer and mend together. Here in heaven the language we speak assumes that you and I are one, that we need each other, that healing comes when we exhale all the toxic things within us by confessing them. Total exposure is not a requirement to enjoy heaven; total exposure is what enjoying heaven looks like."

Amen, and thank you, Jeff.

Comments

[Chad]

Ok . . . that seals it. I am buying the book. Thanks for this.

[Tracy Simmons]

What an amazing post and some incredible quotes. Thanks so much. This really speaks to me right where I am at. Beautiful!

[Nick]

Couldn't be more relevant. Thanks Tim

[Eric Disney]

Omigosh...this is amazing!!! I, too, have to get this book. I actually had one of those "conversations over coffee" this week with two Christian co-workers and it truly was incredible. This entire sermon series has spoken to the deepest place in my heart-thank you Tim Ashley and Shayne.

[cHaRiTy!]

Really?...I was just about to send an email out to a couple of friends to apologize for what i refer to as an episode of epic disproportion for any one sitting :o) this however, surfaced, and leaves me encouraged to just thank them.

ps...My name is charity and I am Poor in Spirit