Fall 1990

Our Be Attitude
Wade E Taylor

"Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven" Matt5:3.

The testimony of the Laodicean Church is recorded in Scripture. "... I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing," Rev 3:17a. Jesus exposed their true condition, "Knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked" Rev 3:17b. They said they were rich, but Jesus told them that they were poor. This Church spoke the opposite of that which the Lord said was to be the attitude of our spirit, "Blessed are the poor inspirit."

These Laodicean Christians were "poor" in that they were satisfied with riches that consisted of temporal things, which would soon pass away. In effect, Jesus said to them, "You said you were rich. I am telling you that you are poor because you have placed your values in the wrong world." Then He added a strong word of correction: "I counsel thee to buy of me gold (Divine Nature)tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed (Bride), and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou mayest see" Rev 3:18.

Jesus said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit." This speaks of the attitude of our heart (QUALITY), rather than the possession of actual material things(QUANTITY). The problem with the Laodiceans was not their possessions, but their attitude concerning them. They said that they had need of nothing. They were spiritually satisfied because of the things that they possessed.

The correction that the Lord desires to bring to each one of us who finds ourselves to be satisfied with material possessions will not be easy. It will require much of us. These Laodiceans were told by Jesus to "buy of me gold tried in the fire." This fire will burn away all dependence in, and satisfaction with, material things. The real values are not to be found in temporal things but rather in eternal things, which have been wrought within our BEing upon the anvil of trials and struggles. Far more than anything He could give us, the Lord desires to change us into the image and likeness of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Therefore, when we recognize that no matter what we may, or may not possess of temporal things, we are to present ourselves to the Lord in an attitude of poverty that we might receive of Him eternal things. Only when we recognize how spiritually poor we are, will we become spiritually hungry; and as a result, spiritually rich.

"As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious" I Peter 2:2-3. Our spiritual life begins as a helpless baby, possessing nothing. Because we are recognized as being helpless, many will care for us and "feed" us the Word, enabling us to grow, spiritually.

We may live on skid row, millionaires row, or somewhere between, but we were all born equal in our lack of spirituality. To those who recognize this, the Lord said "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven." To those having this attitude of material poverty, all things of eternal value are available.

The "Kingdom" means that I have come into alignment with His higher purposes. All other kingdoms become less in value and subservient to the greater Kingdom of Heaven, of which our Lord Jesus Christ is the living, reigning, Head. I become a citizen and begin laying up "gold tried in the fire" within this eternal Kingdom.

"Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted" Matt 5:4. Our natural soul life has strong drives and ambitions. When we determine to become "poor," these drives and ambitions will strongly protest and we cannot help but mourn. We are not told that we will be free from these, but that we will be comforted.

It seems that whenever I determine to fast, I discover that the dining room at the Bible School is about to serve the very best meal ever. Are they really? It sure "feels" that way, but in reality this is not true. When I am physically hungry, every natural thing looks good, and the soul power within me begins to demand satisfaction. I must discipline myself to rise above these intensified desires for natural things.

This reveals the true value of fasting. I am to lift these strong natural desires up into the heavens and accept only that which pertains to His Kingdom purposes. I am to seek spiritual values and reject satisfaction from any lesser realm. Jesus did this when He became extremely hungry and the enemy tempted Him to satisfy His hunger by "turning stones into bread." Jesus refused any satisfaction, until He could receive from above. Later, an angel came and fed Him. Not only was He rewarded for His obedience, but He received an infinitely better meal.

We cannot lose when we make Jesus Lord of our lives. Eternal values will become more important to us that any material gain we may possess. "I counsel thee to buy of me gold." Gold is of great value. It will not come to us easily or quickly. Jesus "learned obedience through the things that He suffered" (Heb 5:8). In His temptation, He suffered because there was not an immediate satisfaction, but afterward what He received was of far greater value.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Having nothing, but possessing all. Consider, could Jesus come to you today and tell you that you are Blessed?