Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom
of heaven.   Matthew 5:3 (ESV)

 You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.  Matthew 5:3 (The Message)

 “You don’t realize Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you have.  ”Timothy Keller 

The word “poor” has many meanings today.  We would probably think of those living under the poverty level who must budget and watch their spending in order to get by.  The Greek word translated here ( πτωχός, ptochos) is a bit more specific: a beggar, a destitute person, a person living off the mercy of others.  We might not actually know anyone like that in our American lives.  It is the most common word in the New Testament translated as “poor.”  Jesus uses it thirty-one times and He engaged in ministry to the destitute and beggars and even on occasion held them up as examples as those to be imitated (the widow who gave everything to God in Mark 12:41-44; Luke 21:1-4).

Blessed are the destitute and beggars in spirit . . . .

I have been reading through the Bible with some wonderful men in Christ-centered addiction recovery.  Many are there as their choice rather than going to prison.  Some have served time in prison and carry those scars both inward and outward.  It is the best days of my week for some of them are so hungry and thirsty for God.  They know desperate.  One man told me his story and how many times he had gone through rehab and relapsed.  He is a very brave man.  He said something that stopped me cold.  He said, “If this doesn’t work, if Jesus isn’t real, I’m dead.”  I had no response, but his reality has not left me.  I trust that he has been close to death and knows the darkness of what might await him if his chains are not broken.

As I read through the gospels, I encounter person after person who was in the same desperate condition:

• The paralytic whose friends cut a hole in the roof and lowered him to Jesus.
• The disciples as the boat was sinking.
• The naked man with a legion of unclean spirits living in the tombs.
• The synagogue official whose daughter was dying.
• Who woman with the issue of blood for twelve years.
• The Gentile woman whose daughter had a demon.
• The man and son who had a spirit that sent him into seizures.
• The thief beside Jesus on the cross was desperate.
• It goes on and on.  The multitudes were not curious.  They were desperate.

Can we add our story in here?  Our desperation may not be for physical healing.   It may be that we are desperate for love, for understanding, for purpose, or for REST.  Actually my friend in recovery spoke for all of us.  If Jesus is not real, WE ARE DEAD!

Not everyone was desperate who encountered Jesus.   The Rich Young Ruler (Matt. 19:16-22; Mark 10:17–30; Luke 18:18–30) came to him in his competence and his achievements and left sad and discouraged.  Jesus let him leave.  That was not a judgment against the man by Jesus, but a recognition of the lack of need of the man.  His real need of life was being masked by his wealth and success.  Perhaps this gives us a different perspective of the situation or stress in which we find ourselves today.  There may be purpose in our failure, our grief, our stress, or our desperation.

Are we ready to become beggars?  If you have made it this far in this journey of silence and solitude, I would imagine that you are at least thinking about it.  There are some miles to go before we get to Jerusalem, so expect God to do more as you present yourself to Him.  Desperate beggars . . . that is our goal.

What will be your word today as you come to God as a beggar?