Glorious Weakness By Alia JoyChikamu

The Glorious Weakness of Poverty

Jesus displaced Himself that we might know Him. This is incarnational ministry, and it’s the life we’re all called to. Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:3). 

The word poor here isn’t referring only to material poverty like the widow in the temple. It’s another word, the Greek word ptochos, that describes a beggarliness. It means being completely destitute of any wealth, resources, position, skill, influence, or honor. It is a helpless dependence that knows in itself it is powerless, weak, naked, and empty. 

And yet Jesus is saying that to come to Him, the very first qualification is our realization and identification of our spiritual poverty. Our acceptance with something so many of us would rather avoid. By identifying with the poverty in us and around us, we become rich. Yet so often, we don’t place value on neediness and poverty. There are no accolades for our lack and our weakness. But God places tremendous value there. 

Throughout the Bible, God spoke of the various reasons for poverty, and while the foolish choices of a sinful lifestyle can contribute to being impoverished, Jesus spent much more time rebuking the affluent for their sinful lifestyles of oppression, greed, and systemic injustice that showed they didn’t love, care for, or see their poor neighbors. His heart of compassion always bent toward those suffering under the burdens of injustice, poverty, and calamity. Jesus has a decided preference for the weak. 

He commanded His disciples to feed the poor, offer drink to the thirsty, and clothe the naked and needy. He told them to practice hospitality to the foreigner. To love the refugees and the immigrants. To nurse the sick and to sit with their pain, to visit those incarcerated and see them as made in the image of God. Jesus adored those we so easily dismiss, despise, or denigrate. 

In Matthew 25 Jesus taught us that when we fail to see Him in the poverty and oppression of others, when we ignore their plight, we fail to understand the heart of God. He makes no qualifications of those who deserve grace and mercy. When we begin to displace ourselves while loving and caring for people who are marginalized, our love has less to do with charity and everything to do with the incarnation of Christ who made Himself poor, just for us.

Is it hard for you to see yourself as destitute in spirit? Why?