Do you want to be filled with the kingdom of heaven?

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3.

“But He answered and said, ‘It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4.

Our body can be maintained by bread—by the things that grow up out of the ground—for it has been created out of the ground. But our spirit has to have nourishment from God, for it came from God. People usually think only of their body and enrich themselves with what the body desires. Then their spirit is impoverished. Most people do not understand this poverty. They become restless and pursue only distraction.

Who are the poor in spirit?

Jesus’ message was: “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 10:7. Our spirit can only be satisfied with the kingdom of heaven. Jesus came with riches for our spirit; therefore He said blessed are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. He has prepared a table for our spirit. Those who could not be content with visible things could become rich in their spirit. They could be filled with the kingdom of heaven and be perfect just as their Father in heaven is perfect. (Matthew 5:48.)

When John’s disciples asked Jesus whether He was the Coming One, Jesus answered that the gospel was being preached to the poor. (Matthew 11:5.) “And on that last and great day of the feast He cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.” John 7:37. By that time they had tried out everything the feast could offer them. Everything was a visible glory and dead works. If there was anyone there who was not content with all that, and who sensed this poverty in his spirit, he could quench his thirst with Him.

In the parable of the good seeds and the tares Jesus says, “The good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one.” Matthew 13:38. The sons of the kingdom are those who cannot be satisfied with earthly things. They hunger after righteousness. They desire heavenly things; they desire to be filled with the life that Jesus proclaimed in the Sermon on the Mount. They are misunderstood and strangers in this world. They have the good confession that Jesus confessed: “My kingdom is not of this world.” John 18:36. When this dispensation is over, and Jesus is establishing His kingdom, the children of the wicked one will be gathered out of His kingdom, and the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. (Matthew 13:41-43.) Then their hidden life with Christ in God will be revealed. (Colossians 3:1-4.) Then the riches of the kingdom of heaven they have gathered in their spirit will shine forth.

Read more here: 20 examples of what it means to be poor in spirit

Treasure the kingdom of heaven!

We cannot strive for riches for the body and for the spirit at the same time. Jesus teaches us that no one can serve two masters, but we must seek God’s kingdom first and His righteousness, then all the things our body needs will be added to us. (Matthew 6:24-34.)

We know where our heart is on the basis of our thought life. And our heart is where our treasure is. (Luke 12:34.) Only a few treasure the kingdom of heaven so highly that they sell everything they have, with joy, in order to buy the pearl—they forsake everything to be Jesus’ disciple. It is quite noticeable that people—also those who call themselves believers— have a rich thought life when the conversation covers earthly things. Then their interests are awakened. But if the conversation turns to heavenly things—the spiritual—they have a poor thought life. They will soon get tired of it.

The Ephesians had received faith in the Lord Jesus and a love for all the saints, but they lacked an understanding of how rich His inheritance was in the saints, and they did not realize how exceedingly great His power is toward those who believe. Therefore Paul did not cease to pray for them that God might give them the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. (Ephesians 1:15-19.)

You can also notice that same lack in our days. May God mightily fill us all with this Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that an interest in God’s kingdom can be much greater among us.

This article is translated from Norwegian and was first published in BCC’s periodical Skjulte Skatter (Hidden Treasures) in February 1960 under the title “The poor in spirit.”
© Copyright Stiftelsen Skjulte Skatters Forlag