Devotional:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.

Matthew 5:3 NKJV

The Lord Yeshua said that those who were poor were the ones who were blessed. He stated that the poor in spirit belonged in His kingdom. 

Yeshua’s kingdom is different from the nations of this world. John the Baptist ate locusts and wild honey for food.  John the Baptist wore camel hair and a leather belt instead of fine clothes. Yeshua praised John the Baptist as the greatest man prior to His kingdom coming (see Matthew 11:11). 

James wrote that God has chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of His kingdom (James 2:5). The Lord Yeshua said He had no place to lay His head (Matthew 8:20). Yeshua walked in a field, gleaning grain with His disciples in order to have food (Matthew 12:1). In order to celebrate Passover with His disciples, the Lord borrowed an upper room from someone else.

Although Yeshua is King of kings and Lord of lords, He rode into His capital city of Jerusalem on a lowly colt, the foal of a donkey (e.g., Matthew 21:7-9, Zechariah 9:9). Joseph and the Virgin Mary gave the offering of two birds rather than a lamb, which was the offering for poor Israelites. Their offering indicated that they were not of wealthy means (Leviticus 12:8, Luke 2:24). Yeshua grew up in Nazareth, a town so humble, that one of His disciples even asked if anything good could come from Nazareth (John 1:46).

Yeshua, the King over all EXISTENCE left His glory, majesty, and splendor. He knelt with a basin of water and a towel wrapped around His waist in order to wash the feet of His disciples. That is not even to talk about Him hanging naked on a cross in order to save us. Yeshua VASTLY decreased His standard of living in order to come to teach us here on earth. 

Yeshua indicated that there were things that were more valuable than US dollars. I believed Yeshua shared with me some of what He considered more valuable than money, food, and clothing. I would like to share that list with you: God, God’s word, love, faith, joy, truth, humility, righteousness, justice, wisdom, loyalty, faithfulness, mercy, good relationships, family, good work, community, good rapport, fellowship, good health, kindness, compassion, knowledge, service, altruism, encouragement, alms, peace, and rest.