Spiritual Poverty - Brian Smith

“Then one poor widow came and threw in two tiny copper coins, which make a penny. So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury.”   This story is about poverty.  Mark 14: 41-44

Poverty is generally considered a bad thing but the Lord teaches, “Blessed are you poor.”

What is desirable about poverty?

Wealth, on a spiritual level has to do with knowledge. The spiritually wealthy know much about heaven, the Lord and the path to a good life (Heavenly Secrets 8906).  Goodness and truths are what are valuable on the level of our spirit. Clearly in this sense, spiritual wealth is a good thing.  What the poor have is a realization of their own lack.

As a spiritual principle, this type of humility is crucial. We cannot grow or be lead by the Lord without this acknowledgment of how little we have.  Add to this the idea of widowhood. In the Bible “widow” is used to mean “those who are without truths and yet desire them” (True Christianity 427).  Together these two elements teach about a person who doesn't know how to live a good life and yet urgently desires to receive the teaching which will guide him. 

Simply put, widowhood and poverty are teachability.

When we see our own need for truths and training in living a good life we become very open to guidance.  Until we recognize the challenging reality that we are not the source of our own life we will live in the pain and stress of trying to manage life without a real trust in the Lord's providence.

The paradox of spiritual poverty is that when we give up the last of what we have, from a place of lack, we are filled up with a feeling of plenty. When we try to gather truths around us to build a fortress of spiritual security we end up feeling insecure because we have yet to learn to rely on the Lord.

We are not asked to treat our families, friends, co-workers and communities well only once we have had enough sleep, exercise, food, relaxation, fun, comfort and energy. Instead we are asked to always do this. And when we come up against the feeling of despair that we have nothing left to offer we are nearing a wonderful realization. The realization that we do not have anything to give and can instead feel the joy and bounty of the Lord's life in us.

Think of Jesus' excitement and joy when He watched this widow make her contribution - when He saw a person dedicated to a loving relationship with Him. He knew this widow was finally in a place open to His blessings. “for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.”