Brother E. Stanley Jones shares his transformation story in his spiritual autobiography, A Song of Ascents. In the midst of emotional exhaustion, or what we may today call “burn out”, he went to Central Methodist Church in Lucknow, India for evangelistic services. He writes, “I was at the back of the church kneeling in prayer, not for myself but for others, when God said to me: ‘Are you yourself ready for the work to which I have called you?’ My reply: ‘No, Lord, I’m done for. I’ve reached the end of my resources and I can’t go on.’ [The Lord replied] ‘If you’ll turn that problem over to me and not worry about it, I’ll take care of it.’ My eager reply: ‘Lord, I close the bargain right here.’ I arose from my knees knowing I was a well man. I was possessed with life and health and peace” (Song of Ascents, 89).
Keep going. Keep moving. Keep your head up. Don’t sit down. Don’t give up. All of these are encouragements I have given and heard throughout my life. Whether it was a coach getting me to push to the end of the exercise or the game; a teacher encouraging me to overcome the obstacle; or a friend trying to pick me up after a defeat, I have heard these words hundreds of times. I am grateful for these encouragements, while realizing when life becomes overwhelming and I am trying to do it all myself, that these words of encouragement push against the very fabric of my faith. There are points in life where I need to stop moving and spend time with Jesus; I need to surrender and give up control of my life; I need to come to Jesus to find rest.
In Matthew 5:3, Jesus says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Poverty is something we tend to push against in our lives in a materialistic world. We want riches and we want comfort in our material possessions, so when we see the word “poor” we want to push back. We fight against poverty. Is it not the same in our spiritual being as well? We want the richness of our spiritual being, seeking joy, happiness, peace, and comfort. We take charge of our lives, seeking those activities and expressions that we believe will give us the spiritual fulfillment we desire. We work harder, do more, and measure our success through completed tasks. Initially, this work gives us the charge or satisfaction we seek. We have spiritual highs and great feelings until a challenge comes into our lives. We take on too many of those tasks. Or, doubt enters the picture and we cannot shake it on our own.
At the beginning of the Beatitudes (which we will be considering over the next two months), Jesus begins with our need to be “poor in spirit.” Different translations convey this “poor in spirit” in a variety of ways: “hopeless” (CEB); “poor and realize their need for him” (NLT); “at the end of your rope” (MSG). To be “poor in spirit” is to recognize we need God—we cannot do this on our own. To see the kingdom of heaven and to experience the fullness of life comes only through our willingness to stop striving and to surrender our lives to Jesus. When we admit our need for Jesus and relinquish control of our lives, we are richer.
Do you find yourself at the end of your resources and desperate? Do you keep trying to do more to find the peace and joy you desire? In this first beatitude, Jesus tells us the way to richness is through poverty of spirit. We need to come to the point of our being helpless, hopeless, and desperate without Jesus, and then, with this recognition, surrender our lives to Him.
“You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule” (The Message)
Prayer: Lord, I try to do more in hopes of finding the richness of your kingdom in my life. Your reality is a kingdom only found in my realization and confession of my poverty without you. I surrender my life to you again today. I want your kingdom. In Jesus’ name. Amen.