He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coastal region around Tyre and Sidon, who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by impure spirits were cured, and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all. Looking at his disciples, he said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.”

–Parallel verses:
‭‭James‬ ‭2‬:‭2‬-‭7‬‬‬
Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?

I once had the privilege to meet a man named Jim from a small church in a small town I served at in college. Jim was a poor old man. He often wore the same clothes more than once. He had a hard time finding work, was fighting an illness, and he wasn’t highly educated. But Jim knew how to do some things very well. He was a good friend, he smiled a lot. And he was very generous. One day as we visited, Jim gave me a small trinket, a three-inch high house which opened up to show the rooms inside. It was nothing fancy, but to Jim, I know it was something he treasured. And he gave it to me. I still have this house on the mantle in my home as a reminder of the generosity of this poor old man who was actually rich in life. He cheered me up and was so generous and kind! When I think of this passage, being poor in spirit, I think of Jim, and his trinket reminds me to this day of the attitude in life he exhibited that pleased God.

When we give up all we have to follow the one who has it all, the little we do have — holds value beyond its worth. The poor give out of their poverty and it means so much more to those who receive their gifts than the gifts of some of the rich who give a small percentage but a large amount. And many times the gifts of the poor are not monetary at all, but they are fruits of the Spirit of God to bless us. So James instructs us to treat the poor with the respect that their “hearts of gold” deserve, and in doing so, we honor God.

Lord, thank you for Jim and his model of sharing his love, though poor, and giving out of his need. May I be so blessed as to give from my need as well!