bankrupt.

Matthew 5:3

"Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

This is the first Beatitude. The first sentence in the very first sermon taught by Jesus. It's not only very important, but it is also the first step.

Two things.

1. Blessed = Happy
2. Poor in Spirit = Spiritual Bankruptcy

The sooner we realize we are incapable of attaining the standard Christ calls us to (Matt. 5:48), the closer we are to finding the One who can help us attain that standard. That calls for humility. Jesus was saying, 'You can't be filled until you are empty.' You can't be worthwhile until you realize you are worthless apart from Christ."

"In the church today there is little emphasis on self- emptying. I've seen many books on how to be filled with joy and other things, but I don't think I've ever seen a book on how to empty yourself of self. Too much of contemporary Christianity feeds on pride. But a person without poverty of spirit fails to understand the grace of God and cannot be a Christian since salvation is by grace through faith. Also, the graces of the Christian life can't grow without humility."

-John MacArthur