In Matthew 5:3 Jesus says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. And in Luke 6:20 He is recorded as saying, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.”
There is something profound about the Kingdom of God or Heaven coming to the poor. I wonder if it is the idea that rich people have it all together. The entire continent of North America seems to have it all together when it comes to sustainability and self-awareness. But maybe the reality is that we are and have been living in our own self built kingdoms.
Kingdoms built on profitability can create a semblance of safety. Kingdoms built on safety can make people feel safe enough to live in individual luxury. Individual kingdoms built on this luxury of beauty and accomplishment can bring fame and feelings of acceptance. But God says each of these kingdoms will eventually fall.
Luke 12:16-21 tells the story of a rich man who experienced so much profitability through farming that he tore down all of his older and smaller barns and built newer and bigger ones to store all of his excess grain. Then he died. In an instant the rich man’s kingdom was out of reach.
Proverbs 31:30 tells us, “Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting . . .”
Profound. God’s Kingdom is for the poor, those who are not storing their treasures in silos, those who are not trying to immortalize their fleeting beauty.
God’s Kingdom is for those who have little. Who don’t have it all together.
Little in spirit.
Little in everything.
This is who enters God’s Kingdom.
The Poor.
If you want God’s Kingdom, you can’t have it all together.