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

                            -Matthew 5:3 

The poor in spirit are not those who are lacking in God's spiritual blessings. Rather, they are the opposite of those who are haughty and arrogant in spirit. Being poor in spirit does not mean constantly being down on yourself, thinking that you are no good; it means viewing yourself and your accomplishments in the light of God's glory and grace. When we do this, we will realize that even our greatest achievements are nothing in comparison with God's excellency, and will therefore praise Him, not the person we see in the mirror.

Notice that the condition of such a person is described as "blessed", or, in modern terms, "happy." This is because obedience to the will of God, no matter what it is, always brings inner peace and joy (John 13:17). Not only are the poor in spirit happy because they are in the will of God, but they can also find delight in knowing that "theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Nobody has greater happiness than he who knows his name is written in the Lambs Book of Life, and that he will one days spend eternity in the kingdom of heaven.

Are you poor in spirit? If not, then be aware that you are robbing yourself of a great and indescribable "blessedness." You might like focusing on how great you think you are but, let's face it, we're never as great as we think.

"For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith."

                            -Romans 12:3