Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:3
Ever been really thirsty to the point of having a parched throat or even suffering from dehydration?
Please answer the question: Are you a needy person?
Can you prepare your own self for eternity without help?
Please answer the question: Are you a needy person?
Would you be ok to have been left completely alone from age 3 or be empty of any human interaction for years at a time?
Please answer the question: Are you a needy person?
All I’m asking is, “Do you know how needy you are – physically, spiritually, and relationally/socially?”
Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus said to be truly happy (blessed; in an enviable position) we must be “poor in spirit”. Nobody likes the idea of being a beggar, but beggars have a unique quality; namely, they own nothing. Everything they get is a gift. Guess what? “We brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.” (I Timothy 6:7) Do you see it? We actually are beggars in the sense that everything we have is a gift. We owe our existence to God’s goodness to us. He provides our physical necessities for life or the abilities to get them. He provides the privilege of being forgiven, saved, and graced with eternal life through faith in His Son Jesus. He even provides others with whom we can have relationships – knowing and being known; loving and being loved. (James 1:17)
The recent cultural struggles and global pandemic have shown our vulnerabilities. Do you see how needy you are? No need to freak out. Everyone else is just as needy as you and I. Being needy and being loved makes taking the pill of being “100% needy of God’s love and provision 100% of the time” a lot easier to swallow. Needy and loved…that is good. Needy and unloved or on our own…that is not good.
Try this:
1. Think of someone you feel is of the opinion that he/she is superior to others. Got it.
- Is this person more needy or less needy than you are? Answer: Neither more needy nor less needy.
- Does having more stuff make someone less needy? Answer: No. We are all completely needy all the time, but some have more of those physical needs met.
- Are wealthy people happier than middle class or poor people? Answer: Wealthy people may have/do more but the answer is no. Happiness doesn’t depend on wealth.
- That person you think has a “superiority complex” may be miserable. Their having more stuff doesn’t equate to being happier or more joyful. Does it?
2.Now think of someone else you feel is of the opinion that they are inferior to others. Got it.
- Is this person who feels inferior actually more needy than others? Answer: No. Just because they have fewer things or less stuff, doesn’t doom them to a sad life. Even feeling inferior doesn’t mean they are in any way…inferior to others.
- Having less stuff doesn’t stop us from having a great relationship with Jesus and with others.
- Jesus wants us to recognize our neediness – our dependence on Him and His provision, as well as, our interdependence on other human relationships.
3.Would you discuss connections between “neediness, vulnerability, God’s provision, and God’s love” with a family/friend? Remember Matthew 5:3. How does knowing we are needy connect to living life with gratitude, humility, and loving Jesus?
4.Having the attitude of a loved beggar in desperate need of God’s love and provision is actually a very wise way to live. After all, Jesus promised us the kingdom of heaven.