One parable that highlights spiritual poverty is the one about two men going up to the Temple to pray.  "And the publican standing afar off would not lift up so much his eyes to heaven but smote upon his breast saying "God be merciful to me, a sinner!"  Luke 18:13.

The Bible uses the word POOR in two senses.

Jesus knew MATERIAL poverty first-hand.  "Though He was rich yet for your sakes He became poor that you through His poverty might become rich."  2 Corinthians 8:9

This was material grinding poverty in a peasants' home, cradled in a borrowed manger, buried in a borrowed tomb.  "He borrowed a bed to lay His head...He borrowed the bread when the crowd He fed.....He borrowed a dish of broken fish....He borrowed a room on the way to the tomb...but the crown that He wore and the Cross that He bore...were His own...but they really were mine!"

Jesus neither favours poverty nor condemns riches, though He does see much danger in wealth.   He spoke of a corn patch with destructive weeds, and one weed was clearly identified as the "deceitfulness of riches".  "He also that received seed among the thorns is he that hears the words...and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word...."   Matthew 13:22

He saw how hard it was for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.  "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God."  Matthew 19:24

He watched a young man walk away sorrowful from the amazing offer of being a disciple.  "When the young man heard that saying he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions."  Matthew 19:22.

There is no virtue in poverty, but we might well ask if we are a better nation for the National Lottery!  Like many legal drugs it has side effects we are yet to discover!

But the Beatitude is really speaking about SPIRITUAL poverty!  King David, who by no stretch of imagination was materially poor, wrote of himself  "This POOR man cried and the Lord heard him and saved him from his troubles"  Psalm 34:6.

It is only those who are willing like David to recognise that they are in spiritual poverty that are blessed!  It is the toe on the ladder.  The soul's awakening.  But what kick-starts this awakening?  Why do some seek to climb the ladder and others do not bother?
 

Paul writing to the Romans says that the evidence of God is so overwhelming that there is no excuse.  "For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, even His eternal power and Godhead, so they are without excuse."  Romans 1:20.

The revelation of God is in itself an immense subject, but when we become aware of Him, when we recognise and realise our condition, Jesus tells us that this is a truly blessed experience.  Because at this very moment we look upwards to God and we start to climb...and the only way is UP!