Spiritually Bankrupt
Clear and Early Detection

Scripture: Matthew 5:3

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

I have heard that one of the deadliest cancers is colon cancer. Paradoxically, if caught in its early stages, colon cancer is the easiest cancer to deal with! The reason it is so deadly is that it often goes undetected! If medical science could come up with a quick and simple test that could constantly monitor it, colon cancer could be dealt with effectively. Thus, this “cancer beatitude” would state: Blessed are those who detected their cancer early, for they shall be healed!

This illustrates Jesus’ first beatitude: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.” Jesus is thinking of a person who has done a self-examination and determined that they are full of “spiritual cancer”! They have discovered that they are morally bankrupt – in great need of a “spiritual surgery.” “Poor in spirit” speaks of poverty of the soul – nothing good can be found. This person has a humble opinion of themselves. This person is desperately looking for and hoping to find a physician – a doctor for their soul. If someone offers this person a “pill” for their spirit, they will take it!

Jesus paints this kind of person with perfect word pictures and declares: they should be happy – their poverty can push them toward Jesus! The humble spirit will make them open to God’s grace! This person should rejoice – the great physician is willing and able to rid them of their spiritual cancer! This characteristic leads them to enter the kingdom of God when the more “self-sufficient” will miss it.

Father, open my eyes to my own spiritual poverty. Keep me feeling my need of a savior. In Jesus’ name, amen.