Blessed are the Poor?

"Blessed are the poor in spirit..." Matthew 5:3

Why would being poor in anything be good for us? Especially in spirit. I would think we should aim for being full to overflowing in the spirit of God. But Jesus meant something else entirely when He said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit." Perhaps we should take a look at Mary as an example of poor in spirit. Even if she was chosen, and certainly special to God, she knew that did not mean she was entitled to special treatment. As a matter of course, she went off to her older cousin Elizabeth upon finding out she was pregnant as well. She took upon herself taking an arduous 90 mile journey to Ein Karem in order to accompany Elizabeth during her time of need. 

No matter how special we are, and no one can be more special than the vessel chosen to carry Jesus for 9 months, we should know that we are spiritually poor, bankrupt before the Almighty God. We have absolutely nothing to offer Him aside from our sinful selves. Still He calls us to Himself, worthless as we are. As His children, we are given robes of royalty in exchange for rags, beauty for ashes. Hallelujah!