Blessed be ye poor

Luke 6:20

And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.

Jesus was a teacher of paradoxes, a teacher of parables, and of unseen and unknown truths. He taught that which most people thought was the opposite of what was actually true. You see, most things are not what they are on their face. What you see is not was is. And we often become hoodwinked by appearance. Just as a you can see a stately and strong man and find that he is the weakest one around, and just as you may meet a beautiful, elegant woman, and find that she is of an ungodly or divisive nature, so is it in most arenas of life. Surely, it is good to be rich! Surely, it is a wonderful thing to have everyone on your side and to live a life of mirth and laughter! But no! Jesus said that is not so! He said those that are rejected, and maligned, and hated, and the offscouring of this world are the most blessed. Blessed be ye poor, He said!

Blessed be ye poor! Those that have little, those that have small incomes, those that do not have the wealth of this world—they are the ones who have great rewards in Heaven. Yes, there are many poor people that are evil and not of God. But He is not speaking of them, He is speaking of “ye poor.” Ye! Those that are His! Rejoice and be exceeding glad when you have not the possessions and the approbation of this world. You that hunger! You that weep! You that are separated from others’ company! Rejoice, and leap for joy! Your reward is great in Heaven!

Remember, dear one, that the trials and troubles of this life are only light afflictions, and they are but for a moment. They work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. We must not look on the things which are seen, but the things which are not seen. For these things are only temporal. Those things are eternal. Find your joy not in what you have, but in what you will have. Find not your satisfaction in pleasure and comfort here, but in the joy and peace and beauty of the world to come. Blessed be ye poor! Your blessings and rewards are awaiting you in the eternal home.

“Father, we praise You that our true and real blessings are all in You. And even if we do not have much here, we know that we have all there. We may seem poor, but we actually possess all things. And, because we have You, we never lack anything. Keep us contented, satisfied, and joyful in Thee this day, as we look forward to the promise and hope of eternity with our Savior, where we shall have peace and joy in Him forever. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.”