During the sermon on the mount, Jesus Christ stated the category of persons who can lay claims to the kingdom of God in the beatitudes. He did not say that the kingdom of heaven belongs to those who pride themselves as leaders in the church or those who try to show off while donating large sums during church projects and launchings, or those who can speak in tongues to show how spiritual they are. Jesus, in the gospel of Matthew 5:3, specifically stated that the kingdom of his father belongs to the poor in spirit. What then does it mean to be poor in spirit?
Firstly, let’s look at what physical poverty is. It can be likened to a point where one depends solely on the kindness of others for all of life’s basic needs, a point of total dependence on strangers to get by every day. A poor person may not be able to boast of anything on his own; even his daily meals may not be guaranteed. If no kindhearted person provides for him, then he's doomed. That is dependence. Poverty!
It is that same dependence that is required in spiritual poverty. The roadside beggars perfectly illustrate this dependence. We see them holding up signs that say different things like “Help me, I’m poor,” "Nothing is too little," etc. They are unable to help themselves and so, they try to reach out to those who they feel are capable of helping them.
In order to attain spiritual poverty, these beggars can show us a way. This time, we are not expected to put up signs physically, but on our insides, we should all be holding up signs pointed at God. That desperate surrender to God, that realization and acceptance that you can't do anything without him, that is what poverty of the spirit feels like.
Spiritual poverty also emphasizes humility. Humility is the realization that everything you are and everything you have come from God. Sadly, even in the church of God, we tend to lose sight of this virtue.
This calls for self-examination. The word of God in 1 Corinthians 10:12 says, "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he falls." As a Christian and as one who intends to make heaven, the following traits should not be found in you.
1. Using one’s position in the church to manipulate or intimidate others. As a leader, you are called to serve. Do that diligently. Do not try to manipulate gullible members for your selfish gain.
2. Taking the glory for what God is doing through you. Miracle workers often get carried away and may start claiming that they heal the sick and raise the dead without returning the glory to God.
3. Putting up shows during church projects and launchings to show off. So many rich people prefer to do things where they would be seen and praised. God is interested in your heart, and not the shows you put up.
4. Speaking in tongues at the slightest provocation even when it is uncalled for, just to show how spiritually energetic you are. So many of us are guilty of this. The gift of tongues should not be abused.
As you know, these acts do not reflect humility and the spiritual poverty which will guarantee a place in the kingdom of God. What gain will all the earthly recognitions yield if heaven, which is the ultimate goal is lost in the end?
Pride can end a great man in misery.