There Are No Proud People In Heaven

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

The economy of the world is wealth and material-driven. I grew up around the unbiblical teaching that "God helps those who help themselves." In one sense, the statement seeks to instill in the mind that idle hands are detrimental to overall well-being. In the other sense, however, it denies the gospel. One can possess all kinds of material wealth yet have nothing if Christ does not possess him (Phil. 3:7-9). Rather than being wealth and material-driven, God's economy is spiritually-driven and seeks to glorify His Son Jesus Christ; one must seek to worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Part of what requires of one to worship God in spirit and truth is to acknowledge in His presence that he does not deserve God's mercy and blessings; indeed, he who is "poor in spirit" knows that he does not deserve heaven. He is not spiritually arrogant. He are not boastful. He is not filled with the "pride of life" (1 John 2:16). He is not one who has an appearance of godliness and yet denies its power (2 Tim. 3:5). As a wretched sinner, He knows that he deserves nothing but God's wrath to be poured upon him. He is one who cries out as a sinner to God and pleads for His mercy (Lk. 18:13).

Praise be to God through Jesus Christ that He is merciful, tender, and willing to forgive any who come to Him with a broken and contrite heart (Ps. 51:17), confessing their sins to Him and believing on Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior (Rom. 10:9; 1 John 1:9).

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