Matthew 5:1-3
"Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them. He said: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
The passage quoted above is the beginning of what is commonly referred to as "the sermon on the mount" because Jesus was teaching from a hilltop or mountainside (makes sense). This particular part is called "the beatitudes" because of the Latin translation of the Bible that starts each phrase: "beati sunt" or “blessed are” in English. So, it's straight-forward and understandable.
I would like to pose a question. What does it mean to be blessed? Some would say it is to be happy because you have received things that "make you happy," but can things or stuff truly make someone happy? Is it just the perspective or appreciation of the things or stuff received? I mean, if you were to give me a puppy I would think it is cute but it wouldn't "make me happy" because I would see it as a burden and something that really wouldn't float my boat. I would think you are just creating work for me, whereas someone else may greatly desire a puppy, so from their perspective the gift of a puppy "makes them happy." Or is it their perspective of the gift that generates a brief emotional response we call "happiness" and is that what it means to be blessed?
Over the years (I'm old so its been a while) I have seen people treat their relationship with God more like a relationship with Santa Claus than with the sovereign creator of the universe. They have certain expectations based upon what someone has told them (usually not from reading the Bible themselves) that God owes them something or is somehow duty-bound to "bless them" and what they mean by that is they want stuff, they think they are on the "good list" and they want something under the tree. But when Jesus talks of "blessings," the things that are truly significant and have a Godly focus of blessing are about our relationship with Him. He says we are blessed "when" we do something. You see, it is our obedience that provides the blessings. It isn't about making us "happy" but it is about providing the things for a healthy relationship with Him, which is always what is best for us and is not subject to our happiness. I have written previously about joy and there is a direct connection here. Our being blessed, if we do not have the correct perspective, may not result in an immediate sense of happiness, but when we focus on what Jesus is really doing and providing and look at it in the correct light, the result is a joy that supersedes happiness and is not subject to immediate circumstances.
In the passage above Jesus said we are blessed when we are "poor in spirit." What does that mean? I believe it means that we are spiritually bankrupt, that we recognize our truly sinful condition and in humility acknowledge that He is the only person in the universe that can reconcile our condition. Once we acknowledge Him through faith as the One who can resolve our condition - what does He promise? The promise is that we shall receive "the kingdom of heaven." Our citizenship in His kingdom is assured. Peter said in 1 Peter 2:9, "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."
Paul said in Romans 8:16-17, "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together." Both Peter and Paul were writing these things to people who have a relationship with Jesus. We are not only citizens in the Kingdom but a "royal priesthood" and co-heirs with Jesus of that kingdom. The realization of that may not make me immediately happy but give me a moment to think about it and I'll get all aflutter...by faith we are truly blessed! So, over the next few weeks we will be looking at relationship issues with Jesus from the "Sermon on the Mount" and looking at the blessings we have as a result of obedience. Hopefully we can all come to the perspective that by faith in Christ I am blessed. Even though my immediate circumstances may be difficult and I may not feel happy, I can have an abiding joy which comes from recognizing that no matter what this world has going on, in Christ I am blessed. I mean, where else other than a fairy tale con someone truly be exalted or lifted from Poverty to Royalty?