We are in the childhood of our eternal existence
Can a ‘poverty mindset’ ever be a good thing? Yes. In this way:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
This is something Jesus said. Another translation has it as “God blesses those who realize their need for him” (Matt. 5.3, New Living Translation).
If we realize we need Him, if we freely admit we do not know everything, then we are blessed. If we desire to know Him more clearly and to learn from Him … we position ourselves to experience the reality of His Kingdom.
You Mean We’re Children Now?
Children do not yet know as they will know.
Yet, they have a powerful quest to learn and grow. Paul wrote from his own experience, his own encounter with the living God. He compared our present understanding – and our life experience which flows from it – to a childhood.
We know in part … but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways (1 Cor. 13.9-12 ESV).
At best our understanding and experience is partial. Our time now is the “childhood” of our eternal existence. To Paul, it’s as if we’re gazing into an imperfect mirror. In the future, we will see Him face to face. We will know Him as He knows us now – with consummate clearness and fullness.
NEWSFLASH: We Don’t Know Everything!
What this means is that we don’t know everything! We are not all-knowing. So, we have a lot of learning before us.
Jesus re: the ‘poverty mindset’ -
We are not self-sufficient. And we are blessed with the Kingdom if we know we are ‘poor in spirit’ and respond proactively. We need God. Rather desperately! We have to re-learn most everything. As we yield, transformation and blessing is ours! We are on our way to abundance.
There is a blessing upon us if we know this … if we admit that our relationship with God can always go to a new level … if we freely agree that we can always learn more about Christ’s realm – THE Kingdom.
I write “THE Kingdom” because His Kingdom is the ULTIMATE KINGDOM. Over all things.
This Poverty Mindset Releases an Abundance Mindset
We can live from the place of a true “abundant mindset” when we really know that we need Him. When we freely admit that we will always have much to learn about how the dynamics of His Kingdom actually work, we are in a place of high blessing.
Go ahead. Give yourself permission to be a “child” for Christ. In another place, Jesus said that we must become as children to experience His Kingdom.
This is the way to true abundance and blessing. In a world of “big adult ideas,” erroneous as they be, an innocent, child-like humility will set us apart. Just watch how God will bless.
The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). – Jesus Christ
A Few Quick Tips on Cultivating a Poverty Mindset
Who in the world would want tips on developing a ‘poverty mindset?’
Well, in the sense of being poor in spirit as Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount, we all should! The reality of His Kingdom will be given to us. And it will release to us an authentic, abundant life. Ready?
- Resolve that a worldly spirit of pride will not penetrate your life. Once in a while, ask someone you trust if they see arrogance in your life and work.
- Admit that the Jesus you know is not the complete Jesus. Now and in the future, we will forever ascend in a more clear recognition of who he is. There is no limit in our relationship with Him.
- Keep coming to Jesus with an open, learning attitude. He said, “Come to Me and learn from Me.” We don’t know everything! Come to Him in worship, prayer and with an open Bible.
- Use the power of a blank page. Come before Him often with an open journal and write the new things He is saying to you, the fresh things you are learning. Remember to review the Kingdom insights He gives.
- Immediately apply what you learn. Begin to put it into action immediately. Activated truth is where the transformation is at.
- Keep the cycle alive. Resist a worldly spirit … keep knowing that you don’t know Him as you ought to! … keep coming to Jesus in an open way … record how your relationship is developing and what you are learning … keep putting your growing relationship and what you are learning to work in the real world.
Blessed are those who really know they don’t know everything!
Q4U: Imagine if we brought the Jesus Way into the spheres of business, education, media, public policy …
