Bankrupt in Spirit

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven"

When giving this verse my typical, half-hearted glance over, I have always imagined "poor in spirit" to mean "down in the dumps". That God was saying, "Hey, if you're feeling a little low, take heart! I'm going to lift your spirit one day in heaven." While that isn't entirely untrue, it certainly isn't what this verse is alluding to at all and really just demonstrates my immature interpretation of things.

The note on this verse is what made me take a second look. It says that "poor in spirit" means the exact opposite of self-sufficient. Don't we think of self-sufficiency as such a good thing? I have always been proud to say I enjoy being self-sufficient, that I don't need others to pity me or donate to me or whatever the case may be. I even see that leaking over into my spiritual frame of mind in so many ways. I would never come out and say that I wanted to live apart from God's provision or direction or lead, but I live as though that is my ultimate goal. I attempt to prove to God that I can do what it takes to impress Him if He just sits back and waits. I try and fail and so I tell myself to try harder. I must subconsciously believe that if and when I succeed at something, that God will be all the more impressed with me that I did it without even asking for His help.

So, what a concept to hear that Jesus says how happy/fortunate/blissful are those who lack self-sufficiency and recognize it!! So, He'd MUCH rather see me fall prostrate before Him and cry out in everything, "I know as well as You do, Lord, that I cannot do this. If I try, I will fail. I NEED You." He says that a heart like this will be blessed beyond measure.

The note goes onto mention the recognition of one's own "spiritual bankruptcy". I have heard that phrase and even used it from time to time. But, when I really step back and think of the word picture there, it is so clear what He's saying. When a debt, say a mortgage loan, is owed to a bank, the debtor is required to pay it. There are no easy ways around that. It is expected. However, when the debtor runs out of all resources and ability to pay that debt, he must file bankruptcy and admit to the bank that there is no way he can ever pay it back. The bank, having accepted the risk from the beginning, is forced to forgive that debt. In the financial world, the money is no longer owed, but the debtor's credit is stained permanately.

With God, we must realize that the debt we owe is not one we will EVER be able to pay. Even at our very best, we will never be able to take a small chunk out of the debt we owe for our sin. We have not become bankrupt, we were BORN bankrupt. The struggle is that we have such a hard time admitting that and cutting out the worthless efforts to cover that ugly fact up. It's the epitome of humiliation, to ever have to say "I am nothing, I am wretched, I am hopeless", but, that's what we are. If we would just admit our spiritual bankruptcy, Christ-being infinitely wiser and holier than a bank, will forgive the debt. He made that possible through shedding His blood on the Cross for our sins. That debt was long ago paid, but we have to accept it. The most fascinating thing is, once we do, there is no permanate stain on us; we are as white as snow!

The gift of the Kingdom of Heaven is purely one of GRACE. We cannot atone for our own debt to God. Instead, we continue to add to that debt with every sin we go on committing, and the cycle WILL NOT STOP short of heaven. Christ's sacrafice for us is the only hope we have. Simply being humble, Jesus says, will make us happy.