In the Beatitudes, Jesus preached, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.” (Matt 5:3-10) This statement challenges our modern world in profound ways.
We live in a society where pride seems to hover over everything we do. There is an underlying belief that we are self-sufficient and that our accomplishments, talents, and accolades define us. This belief somehow proves we don’t need anyone else — including God. The world around us encourages this mindset. It tells us that if we work hard enough, achieve enough, and make a name for ourselves, we can live fulfilled lives without needing to rely on anything or anyone, especially God. But this is not the truth that Jesus invites us to live by.
The pride we often carry is dangerous because it blinds us to the reality of to the truth. Pride makes us believe that we are strong enough on our own. Jesus flips this on its head by declaring that the poor in spirit, those who recognize their deep need for God, are the ones who inherit the kingdom of heaven. This isn’t just about humility; it’s about living with an awareness of our brokenness and our need for a Savior, every day.
When we are poor in spirit, we acknowledge that no matter how much we achieve, we are still in desperate need of God’s grace, mercy, and guidance. Without Him, we are incomplete.
I believe the Lord is calling us back to a deeper reliance on Him. He’s calling us to set aside the spirit of pride that hovers over our communities and instead, embrace the truth that we are not enough on our own. We need the kingdom of God not only behind us but within us, transforming us from the inside out. In a world that tells us to boast in our success, God is inviting us to boast in our weakness, knowing that His strength is made perfect in our inadequacies (2 Cor 12:9). This kind of dependence on God is not a sign of failure or weakness; it’s the path to true blessing and peace.
When we recognize our need for Him, we begin to understand what it means to truly hunger and thirst for righteousness. The Beatitudes teach us that those who crave righteousness, who long for things to be made right in their own hearts and in the world, will be satisfied. But we cannot hunger and thirst for righteousness if we believe we have already arrived. If we are full of pride, we will never be filled with what God desires to give us. He is calling us to empty ourselves of self-reliance, so He can fill us with His righteousness, His presence, and His kingdom.
It’s easy to become distracted by the busyness of life, thinking that more achievements, recognition, or material gains will satisfy the longing in our hearts. But deep down, those things will never fill the space that is meant for God alone. He is asking us to come to Him with open hands, admitting that we don’t have it all together, that we don’t have all the answers, and that we cannot make it on our own.
I encourage us to take time to reflect on our own hearts. Are we relying on our own strength or on the strength of our Savior? Are we seeking our own kingdom or are we pursuing the kingdom of heaven? Jesus’ words in the Beatitudes are a powerful reminder that those who are poor in spirit, who hunger and thirst for righteousness, will be blessed beyond measure. But that blessing comes when we surrender our pride, our self-reliance, and our desire for control. It’s in that surrender that we find true freedom and the fullness of life that God has promised us. Let’s come back to a place of deeper dependence on Him, knowing that His kingdom is more than enough for us.
Tyler Jones is Student Ministry Pastor at Koinonia Church in Hanford, CA. He can be reached at tyler@kchanford.com or 559-582-1528.