8月19日
标 题：心灵贫穷的人
经 节：虚心的人有福了！因为天国是他们的。（马太福音五章3节）
圣经中描述许多外表看起来似乎自相矛盾的议论，挑战人类的思维。我们认为穷人是生活有匮乏的人，然而耶稣说，天堂中的富人是自觉心灵贫穷的人。人定胜天的想法剥夺我们得到神美好的礼物。
耶稣坚持，若要跟随祂，一定要戒绝靠自我的力量行事。只要倚靠自己拥有的能力及方法，就不能把信心创建在神的身上。只要承认自己心灵贫穷，就会了解自己极度需要救主。耶稣说：“天国近了，你们应当悔改。”（马太福音四：17）神愿意丰丰富富地赐予那些愿意倚靠耶稣供应需要的人。
耶稣说，骆驼穿过针的眼，比有钱人进神的天国还要容易。耶稣说这话之前，才刚遇见一个年轻的官，他因为看重自己丰富的家道，以致不能放弃一切跟随耶稣（路加福音十八：18～24）。耶稣后来又遇见撒该。撒该是个恶名昭彰的富有税吏（路加福音十九：1～10）。虽然撒该拥有许多物质上的财宝，但是他承认自己灵性的贫乏，并且查找救恩。耶稣教导门徒，可以在与神的关系中查找真正的财富。那些知道自己因为远离神，而内在灵性贫穷的人，会信任神，并且祂会使他们在生活中，享受祂无限的丰盛。不要容许你的产业、智慧、天分或能力，阻止你去信任那位真神。
The Poor in Spirit
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is
the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3)
The Bible presents many paradoxes that challenge
our human way of thinking. We think of the poor as possessing very little, yet
Jesus said the riches of heaven belong to the poor in spirit. Self-reliance
robs us of God’s good gifts.
Jesus insisted that in order to follow Him we must
deny self. As long as we rely on our own resources, we will never place our
trust in Him. As we acknowledge the poverty of our souls, we realize how
desperately we need a Savior. Jesus declared: “Repent! For the kingdom of
heaven is near” (Matt. 4:17). God has so much to give the one who recognizes
his need and will call upon Jesus!
Jesus said it is easier for a camel to go through
the eye of a needle than it is for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.
He had just encountered the rich ruler, who valued his possessions so much that
he could not give them up to follow Jesus (Luke 18:18–24). Jesus later
encountered Zaccheus, a wealthy, notorious sinner (Luke 19:1–10). Despite
Zaccheus’s material wealth, he recognized his spiritual poverty and found
salvation. Jesus taught the disciples that true wealth is found in a
relationship with God. Those who realize their inherent spiritual poverty apart
from God will trust in Him, and He will enrich their lives immeasurably. Do not
allow your resources, wisdom, talent, or abilities to prevent you from trusting
the Person who can bring you abundant life.
