I’ve been working with youth for over 45 years now. And while boys will be boys, regardless of the generation in which they life, and girls will be girls, there’s been a change in how they see good and bad—I’ve seen it. With both children and young adults, more and more, there’s a growing apathy towards Christianity or going to church. There’s a prevalent attitude that Jesus is lucky to have them at church.
We are at a crisis, I believe, in our nation. what we’re not telling people is that living the Christian life is not about getting better and better, but rather about becoming more and more aware of just how much they need a savior, how repulsive their sins are, and how they must depend upon Christ for salvation from eternal damnation.
What’s not being preached enough is “sin”. I read that less than 20% of the youth in the UK believe in God and see no need for salvation, because, as one British girl recently posted, “she’s not that bad and has not murdered anyone….”
In reality, seeing the ugliness of our sin and our total spiritual bankruptcy allows us to understand what Jesus has done for us through His life and death. That knowledge can lead us into a profound sense of self disgust, and then by confession and repentance, into true worship and deeper relationship with Him.
We all need to understand the depth of our depravity. We need to be confronted with the reality that every time we turn to anyone or anything other than God to give us what only He can give, we become idolatrous.. Idolatry can be found work, or family, or in boyfriends/girlsfriends, academics, body image, popularity, etc. – is at the core of all sin because it exchanges the truth about God for a lie.
So here then is our next look at the beatitudes: “Looking at his disciples, he said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.” Luke 6:20, NIV)
If you are a student of the Bible you know the beatitudes are listed two times in the New Testament—once by Luke and once by Matthew. Luke’s version is shorter, and he leaves out “in spirit”, and just says, “the poor”. Both are true, of course, but that might make some of us a little queasy and uncomfortable. When we read, “blessed are the poor in spirit”, we know that that could include all of us, and we understand that it refers to an acknowledgement of all of our spiritual poverty. But the Lucan version is also true—even if some preachers and Christians avoid it. Blessed are the poor, is somethingt Jesus would speak from the fancy pulpits of those that preach “prosperity theology”—the Joel Osteens, Jim Bakkers and mega-church pastors that pander to people’s greed and desire to be blessed financially. If you’re looking to be a Christian so that you can be rich or successful, you’re deceived and mistaken about the gospel. That gospel is not found in the Bible. Sometimes God blesses us financially, but that’s not a sign of God’s favor. It might be a sign of God taking care of you because you are a spiritual baby; the mature don’t look for money or land or possessions as evidence of God’s blessing, but the assurance that He is pleased with them…that He will take care of their needs—-not their wants or cravings—-and that as a good Father, He won’t abandon them when things get tough. It’s assurance that He can give you what, if you really push Him, but He prefers that you trust Him to bless you with what you can handle, in His time—with you can manage, without getting your eyes off of Him.
David was a man after God’s own heart, but he struggled, and in those struggles, and as he battled depression and abandonment from others, he found peace and purpose in God alone. But his son, Solomon, was blessed beyond measure, did not have to struggle, was the most gifted man to ever live, and he drifted away from God the more he was blessed. Good things—-an abundance of possessions, tends to create a greater desire for more possessions and more independence.. The more we have, the more satisfied we should be, but it’s just not possible if we begin to think we are successful or wealthy and no longer need God.
One of the most generous donors to my ministry changed, dramatically, and tragically, when he went from being worthy several millions to being worth hundreds of millions. He lost his character….his humility….his compassion…..his ability to freely give…and apparently his need to honor God as he expanded into excessive wealth. Be careful what you wish and pray for.
Don’t expect the common tele-evangelist to quote, “Blessed are the poor”, because it’s a little difficult to swallow for those of us who are not poor. You might think that you’re not affluent or that you don’t have great wealth, but compared to most people on this planet, we Americans are exceedingly blessed financially. But I am not so sure that American Christians are as blessed spiritually—-truly blessed —if they that have far less than we do.
So when we quote, “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” everyone here, and those reading this sermon, seems to have an understanding that the option of being blessed is open to all of us—because, of course, outside of Christ we are all poor in spirit in one way or the other. But there’s a blessedness of being poor—and I really mean that. And I am not saying that we should not work, or save money, or invest wisely. Nor should we not enjoy the fruits of our labors. I have no respect for people that choose poverty because they don’t want to work or study or apply themselves.
You can chose to ignore Luke 6:20, but you’ll never have the mind of Christ if you pick and choose what you like, and avoid meditating upon things He said that makes you cringe.. Either what He said is true—all of it—and applicable—-or we need some modern day Pharisee and Scribe to tell us what’s important and what’s not.
Friends, we have the Holy Spirit to open our eyes and ears as to what is important and essential for us to live as true disciples of Jesus—-we don’t need scholars or someone that can read the Greek and Hebrews to us and explain the “real” meaning of the pluperfect, or future perfect tense of a verb in the Bible. The Bible is right before you! Just pick it up and read it and let His Spirit illuminate it.
So let me tell you what I have come to understand about this beatitude. Jesus meant both things He said, as recorded in Matthew and Luke. You are blessed when you open your eyes to how poor you are spiritually compared to a holy, perfect God—it’s a hopeless comparison. Those that are spiritually proud, now, just as when Jesus preached, are comical creatures—-and to be pitied. They have no idea how impoverished they are. I know people, preachers, men and women who believe that they are far ahead of the rest of humanity, and make it clear that they know more, understand God better, have read the Bible more carefully, etc. But spiritually mature folks don’t live like that.
But when we come to realize our spiritual shortingS—-when we see ourselves clearly—-a glimpse of what we really are—He is able to come and put new clothes on us and feed us the best food in His pantry—-we receive the blessing of a spiritual bonanza—or up-filling that we cannot contain!
But in regard to wealth, or saving up more than you will ever need, recall that more than once Jesus talked about the inherent and almost unavoidable dangers of wealth. It’s not a sin to be rich, but it is a sin to worship it. And that’s the problem. The more we have, the more proud, possessive and greedy we usually become. And of course, that which you’re worshipping is which occupies most of your wandering thoughts, fantasies and day-dreams.
Jesus was clear, it’s easier and more blessed to be literally poor, and even lack lack the some of those things we might call “essential” for daily life, because if you are poor, you are in a constant state of trusting Him—not your investments , your portfolio or your paychecks.
These are Jesus words in Matthew about rich folks: “Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” (Matthew 9:14 NIV). Jesus never, ever lied. His words are true. Is there any doubt that the most godless cities on this earth are also inhabited by the wealthiest?
And in the same gospel He warned about the common preoccupation of us wanting more and more things and focusing on more money than we need. “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth” (Matthew 6:19). “Seek the kingdom first and the other things will be added” (see Matthew 6:33). To the man who built bigger and bigger barns, Jesus says, “Fool! This night your soul is required of you” (Luke 12:20). What else can He be talking about that our focus on having, rather than giving. Our habit of saving and storing, rather than sharing and giving away.
Methodists are aware of these words attributed to their founder, John Wesley: "Gain all you can, Save all you can, Give all you can.” But most Methodists and Christians forget the last line.
There is a way that the kingdom of heaven can belong to the rich as well as the poor. It is by each of us seeing ourselves as we really are—in need of daily bread from our Father….desperate for protection from the schemes of our common enemy—Satan….thirsting for those things for which we created and of which only God can satiate our yearning—to be loved and to learn to love.
I doubt anyone desired riches as greatly as my favorite saint, Saint Francis of Assisi, desired poverty. When he saw someone poorer than himself, he was immediately envious. He chose poverty as his spouse, as his wealth, and sought to be the poorest of men for Christ's sake. It’s said that he loved all men, but especially poor men, for in them he found a faith, simplicity and peace that the men of means never understood.
My modern day hero is George Mueller—the man that founded orphanages all over England without a penny in his pocket—he listened to, and trusted God to do the impossible. Things happened for George that were undeniably “the very hand of God”. Sometimes a wealthy person would send a large amount of money, many times food, supplies, or money came at the last minute, but God always provided without George telling anyone about his needs. The man never asked for help from his fellow man. He just prayed and waited on God!!! In addition to caring for orphans, George Müller also paid for the printing of Bibles and tracts. He gave away more than 250,000 Bibles from 1850-1900. He paid tuition for hundreds of children to go to school. During his lifetime in answer to prayer he raised $129,000,000 which he gave away, and when he died he had only a little money left—and nothing for himself. The trust he set up continues to support missionaries around the world. His trust has helped nearly 18,000 children during the 150 year life of the orphanages he set up. But be was poor—-he had almost nothing to his name.
Are you poor—-in Spirit? Are you aware that your wealth will do you no good, whatsoever in your relationship with Jesus Christ unless you see yourself as a steward over what God has loaned to you? It’s all His—-and one day it will all burn up.
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