Needing and Giving

by Francine Biere
Published January 21, 2006

Blessed are the poor in spirit … Matthew 5:3

Part 2
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Poor in spirit doesn't sound like a goal – or something we would want to aspire to. But, it all depends on your perspective.

The world would have us believe that personal independence is another key to success, happiness, and peace of mind. In other words, self-sufficiency should be our goal. However, if we accept that as truth, we must weigh what's of more value – temporary and superficial or eternal and real.

Personal independence sounds good, but when is the last time you depended completely on yourself to meet every need you might have? Not only does that sound like a pretty lonely existence, I think it would be exhausting.

If we are brutally honest, we know that no one is completely independent, particularly in this high-tech world. Even if it is only a need for goods and services, we need others to fix our computers or the lawn mower. Then there are doctors, hair stylists, or car mechanics. After all, the most mundane tasks need doing. Thinking we don't need others is a fallacy. The reality is we are needy.

If we value this kind of self-sufficiency, then we find little need for others, be it family, friends, or society in general. If we get to a point where we do not value others, our world won't be a very compassionate place to live. Let's face it, it is our care of and compassion for people that motivate us to reach out and help them.

I think this is part of denying ourselves, but it goes beyond that.

If we reverse the verse, so to speak, and look at it from a purely humanitarian point of view, we can see the poor in spirit around us – those who have little, be it material, emotional, or spiritual. Are we our brother's keeper? The world would be in better shape if each of us saw ourselves in that position.

The truth is that many of our own problems become insignificant when we reach out to the poor in spirit. Assisting those who are less fortunate not only helps them, but also takes our preoccupation off ourselves. Instead of constantly trying to fulfill our own needs, we are reaching out to others. Reality is that when we spend so much time focusing on our own problems, we usually experience more stress and anxiety.

It's interesting that following Jesus' guidance not only touches the poor in spirit, it demonstrates that God knows what's best for us.

The bottom line is that if we believe we are self-sufficient, then we'll never begin to understand that being poor in spirit opens us up to receive something more precious than the world's approval or their definition of peace and contentment. Their way is only temporary. Remember things break, people leave, and we get old.

We might want to consider which we prefer: rich in the things of the world, which ultimately disappear or, poor in spirit, which comes with a blessing.

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