8月19日

標　　題：心靈貧窮的人

經　　節：虛心的人有福了！因為天國是他們的。（馬太福音五章3節）

聖經中描述許多外表看起來似乎自相矛盾的議論，挑戰人類的思維。我們認為窮人是生活有匱乏的人，然而耶穌說，天堂中的富人是自覺心靈貧窮的人。人定勝天的想法剝奪我們得到神美好的禮物。

耶穌堅持，若要跟隨祂，一定要戒絕靠自我的力量行事。只要倚靠自己擁有的能力及方法，就不能把信心創建在神的身上。只要承認自己心靈貧窮，就會瞭解自己極度需要救主。耶穌說：「天國近了，你們應當悔改。」（馬太福音四：17）神願意豐豐富富地賜予那些願意倚靠耶穌供應需要的人。

耶穌說，駱駝穿過針的眼，比有錢人進神的天國還要容易。耶穌說這話之前，才剛遇見一個年輕的官，他因為看重自己豐富的家道，以致不能放棄一切跟隨耶穌（路加福音十八：18∼24）。耶穌後來又遇見撒該。撒該是個惡名昭彰的富有稅吏（路加福音十九：1∼10）。雖然撒該擁有許多物質上的財寶，但是他承認自己靈性的貧乏，並且查找救恩。耶穌教導門徒，可以在與神的關係中查找真正的財富。那些知道自己因為遠離神，而內在靈性貧窮的人，會信任神，並且祂會使他們在生活中，享受祂無限的豐盛。不要容許你的產業、智慧、天分或能力，阻止你去信任那位真神。

The Poor in Spirit

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:3)

The Bible presents many paradoxes that challenge our human way of thinking. We think of the poor as possessing very little, yet Jesus said the riches of heaven belong to the poor in spirit. Self-reliance robs us of God’s good gifts.

Jesus insisted that in order to follow Him we must deny self. As long as we rely on our own resources, we will never place our trust in Him. As we acknowledge the poverty of our souls, we realize how desperately we need a Savior. Jesus declared: “Repent! For the kingdom of heaven is near” (Matt. 4:17). God has so much to give the one who recognizes his need and will call upon Jesus!

Jesus said it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. He had just encountered the rich ruler, who valued his possessions so much that he could not give them up to follow Jesus (Luke 18:18–24). Jesus later encountered Zaccheus, a wealthy, notorious sinner (Luke 19:1–10). Despite Zaccheus’s material wealth, he recognized his spiritual poverty and found salvation. Jesus taught the disciples that true wealth is found in a relationship with God. Those who realize their inherent spiritual poverty apart from God will trust in Him, and He will enrich their lives immeasurably. Do not allow your resources, wisdom, talent, or abilities to prevent you from trusting the Person who can bring you abundant life.