"Hear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy."

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3)

What does it look like to be poor?

The poor are devoid of the world's power and privilege when it is readily available to others. They are overlooked and on the outside of society. The poor lack significance on the world's term of success and accomplishments.

One author writes about St. John of the Cross, “John is simply observing that if anyone is serous about loving God totally, he must willingly entertain no self-centered pursuit of finite things sought for themselves, that is, devoid of honest direction to God, our sole end and purpose. [1]

David, while wealthy was someone who referred to himself over and over as poor throughout the Psalms. In Psalm 86:1, David prays, “Hear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.”

One author notes that David's will was not fixed on riches, and he thereby lived as though he was poor. He goes on to quote St. John of the Cross: “For we are not discussing the mere lack of things; this lack will not divest the soul if it craves for all these objects. We are dealing with the denudation of the soul's appetites and gratifications; this is what leaves it free and empty of all things, even though it possess them. Since the things of the world cannot enter the soul, they are not in themselves an encumbrance of harm to it; rather, it is the will and appetite dwelling within that causes it damage.” [2]

Often we want “more” because we think it will somehow fill us. However, excess dulls our spirit. One author writes, “As soon as we go too far in eating, drinking, working, or some other activity, we show our behavior is disordered because it is in excess of what He wills.” [3] [a]

Being poor in spirit is not so much about what we have as far as possessions, it is about what we allow our soul to cling to or cling to us. It is letting go of our grip of needing power, position, pride, gratification, recognition, need to be right, and appreciation or other worldly claims.

It is not so much that we must renounce all these things and take a vow of poverty – don't touch, don't taste, don't look. David did not give away everything he owned and denounce his position as king, rather his soul did not crave these things and they did not have control over him.

He saw himself as weak and needy and God the source of all things that could fill him. David says in Psalm 40:17, “Yet I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; O my God, do not delay.” As Commentary notes, it was words “of one who had no resource but in God...” [4]

“Take it all, cause I can't take it any longer... Here I am, all I have, take it all” sings.

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1:26-31, “Consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Sometimes it can be hard to see what we are clinging to in the world. Some questions we can ask ourselves are:

Where do we use our time to fill a need for success and accomplishment rather than be present to a loving God who is more than enough to meet all our needs?

Do we really believe he will meet all our needs if we are not succeeding and accomplishing or do we believe we need to work hard to be deserving?

Are we okay petitioning God in all our neediness or do we feel we have to present to him our accomplishments and be deserving of what He bestows?

When people do not recognize our status, importance, gifts, or accomplishments, do we feel we need to manipulate circumstances or do something to stand out and be recognized?

Where is there excess consumption, use or activity in our lives?

Lord, there are so many ways that we hold to excess and cling to the worlds ways. Teach us like David, to truly be poor in spirit. Give us freedom from attachments to the things around us and let us find our full security in you meeting our needs.

a. When we have indulged in excess and dulled our spirits, fasting these things for a period of time can awaken hunger in us again for what is genuinely going to fill us. (See Matthew 4:1-4)

1-3. Dubay, Thomas. S.M. Fire Within. The Freedom of Detachment.St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, and the Gospel -on Prayer. Ignatious Press, San Francisco, CA. 1989. pp. 134-135.

4. Barnes' Notes on the Bible. Located at: http://bible.cc/psalms/40-17.htm Last Accessed: 2/18/13.