I read a passage yesterday in the Gospel of Matthew and it hit me in a way that it never had before. The passage was Matthew 5:3, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

At first, I was taken back at the reality that I had never truly internalized what Jesus was saying here. What does it mean to be poor in spirit? Have I lived my life in way that reflects that?

In Matthew 13:44 Jesus tells this parable, “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field.”

To be poor in spirit is to realize that nothing we have is worth more than the kingdom of heaven. This includes not only our material possessions, but our relationships, aspirations, reputations, careers, and more. In Luke 14:33 Jesus says, “No one of you can be my disciple who does not give up all his own possessions.” This idea of “possessions” is so complete that it includes everything we hold valuable. Nothing is to be more valuable to us than Christ.

My challenge to you is to take on this spirit of poverty and be willing to part with anything, knowing that nothing is more valuable than the hope and grace we have in Christ Jesus.