I’ve been known to have my fair share of car trouble. Over the years, I’ve had several cars with gas gauges that did not register correctly. Sometimes I recognized the issue in time, and sometimes it left me stranded alongside the road and out of gas. Why? Because I didn’t know I was running on empty. My concern is that many people today have a broken gauge when it comes to their spiritual condition. They might be “running on empty” spiritually but have not realized it (and may someday find themselves stranded along the road). This is the caution found in Matthew 5:3 – “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

What does it really mean to be “poor in spirit?” It begins with having an accurate assessment of yourself. There is an eternal blessing attached to those who meet this condition, so it is vitally important that your spiritual “gauge” is working correctly. The Greek word for “poor” in this verse is ptōchos and can be defined as beggarly, destitute of wealth, or being of inadequate or insufficient value. In other words, “empty”! But, how do we determine if we are poor in spirit?

All wealth is measured against a standard. Years ago, our currency was backed with gold and its high and relatively stable value became our standard for estimating the value of our material wealth – (i.e. the “gold standard”). In evaluating our spiritual wealth, it must be weighed against a standard as well. But the wealth of our spirit is not tied to material wealth, educational prowess, abundant social relationships, or any other tangible measuring standard. Because it is spiritual, our wealth in this realm must be measured against the unchanging standard of true holiness found in Jesus Christ. When viewed this way, the truth is that we are ALL poor in spirit before God’s standard of wealth. Yet, we are not ALL going to be part of the kingdom of heaven.

Being “poor in spirit”, then, becomes a question of perception. You must recognize your own poverty as it compares to God’s great wealth. You must also determine that you are helplessly incapable of producing spiritual wealth of that magnitude to have a proper view of your own spiritual condition. Many people, though, do not recognize this important fact about themselves. To those, Jesus said, “They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.” (Matthew 9:12) There are so many in this world who believe they are good people, who have good morals, who go to church, who try to choose the good over the bad, or who are maintaining a positive mental attitude – who are also going to hell because of their own self deception. They don’t perceive their own spiritual poverty.

This self-deception about our condition comes from pride. So many times we wrestle with pride in our lives. Pride tells us that we should be pleased with the person we have become, or the accomplishments we have made. Pride tells us that others should acknowledge the good in us as well (and become offended when others fail to applaud us). And at some point along the way, pride brings us to the belief that God should be satisfied with our efforts as well. However, pride also blinds us to the true spiritual wealth found in Jesus Christ that we can not attain on our own. It gives us a false assurance of our merit and standing before God.

Jesus Christ tells us that only those who recognize their own poverty are brought low enough in their own estimation of self to accept the free gift of the kingdom of heaven offered through Jesus Christ’s work on our behalf. 2 Corinthians 8:9 says, “Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.”

Jesus Christ tells us that only those who recognize their own poverty are brought low enough in their own estimation of self to accept the free gift of the kingdom of heaven. Do you know for sure that the kingdom of heaven is yours? Jesus Christ says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6) Have you realized that the spiritual wealth you may possess is viewed as filthy rags before God? Turn to Jesus Christ. Admit your spiritual poverty and your inability to meet God’s standard. Repent of your sin and ask Jesus Christ to save you. When you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ instead of your own merit, this promise will apply to you as well - “ye through his poverty might be rich.”