What does it mean to be poor in the spirit?

Jesus pointed out that an important reason for his coming as Messiah was to declare good news to the poor. This does not indicate any special merit in being poor or that the poor automatically have God's favor. But, primarily, those who followed Jesus and had been given the hope of sharing in the blessings of God's kingdom were drawn from among the poor or common people.

Someone who is 'poor in spirit' MUST have a love of the truth because

that is the truth that WE can't do it.

I just read a question from someone here on R & S who said he was

going to quit atheism, and become a fatalist and wanted to know

where to find other fatalists.

This is someone who sees (in another way) that they can't

control what happens.

Nor can we.

I think of attributes of someone poor in spirit.

They will be teachable. They won't 'know it all', won't be

so prone to argue and fight.

They will know...'I am not there yet, and I need help'.

They are likely able to ask others in a gentle way for help.

They see all around them those that have more, are more than

they are, more money, more prestige, a better job, more...

And they are likely to then trust God, to look to God.

If they are poor in spirit, they won't worry about what others THINK

because they already know they aren't 'all in all'.

They will be someone God wants in His Kingdom.

Literally the word translated poor means to be lacking or deficient, to be destitute of wealth, influence, position or honor. In other words with nothing to commend oneself. The Greek word comes from two others that mean to crouch down and be prostrate. The best word to describe the phrase “poor in spirit” is humble. It’s the opposite of being proud or self centered.

When the word spirit is in the lower case, as it is here, it refers to the human spirit not the Holy Spirit. Think of the lowliest subject who finds himself in the presence a mighty king and you’ll have the idea. It describes how we should think of ourselves when we come into the presence of the Lord.

Paul gave us a good example of this. In Phil 2:5-8 he wrote that while Jesus really was God in human form, He didn’t go around acting like He was God. Instead He humbled himself and became an obedient servant of God. He became poor in spirit.

To be poor in spirit is to have a humble opinion of ourselves, to be sensible that we are sinners, and have no righteousness of our own; to be willing to be saved only by the rich grace and mercy of God; to be willing to be where God places us, to bear what he lays on us, to go where he bids us, and to die when he commands; to be willing to be in his hands, and to feel that we deserve no favor from him. It is opposed to pride, and vanity, and ambition. Such are happy!

They spent the last of their money on booze.

Ya meek and humble and all that good stuff

i guess when you resort to drinking methylated spirits

They get drunk from just a few sips?

they are conscience of their spiritual needs

they dont drink alcohol.