The lack of spiritual riches and gifts is seen by Scripture as an especially distressing cause of poverty. Awareness of spiritual poverty leads to a turning towards God in order to receive the riches he graciously offers through the gospel.
The ungodly are spiritually poor
They lack faith
Matthew 13:58 parallel Mark 6:6
They lack understanding
Proverbs 10:21; Isaiah 5:13, Isaiah 56:10–11; Jeremiah 5:4; Hosea 4:6; 1 Timothy 6:5
They lack God
They lack eternal life
Matthew 16:26 parallel Luke 9:25; Luke 12:20–21, Luke 16:22–23; James 5:1–6
They lack knowledge of their spiritual poverty
Spiritual poverty may be a judgment
Amos 8:11 See also Psalm 51:11, Psalm 74:9; Lamentations 2:9; Ezekiel 7:26; Matthew 13:14–15; Revelation 2:5
Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord GOD, when I will send a famine on the land — not a famine of bread or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD.
The godly are aware of their poverty
David recognised that he was poor and needy
Psalm 40:17 See also Psalm 34:6, Psalm 35:10, Psalm 70:5, Psalm 86:1, Psalm 109:22
But I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my helper and deliverer; O my God, do not delay.
Others recognise their spiritual poverty
Romans 7:18 See also Job 42:6; Psalm 8:3–4; Luke 5:8, Luke 7:6; Romans 7:24
I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh; for I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.
Those who know that they are poor will be blessed by God
God will satisfy the poor in spirit
Matthew 5:3 parallel Luke 6:20–21 See also Matthew 5:6
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
God will save the poor in spirit
God will accept the poor in spirit
God will be close to the poor in spirit
God will hear the prayers of the poor in spirit
God will give grace to the poor in spirit
James 4:6, James 4:10; 1 Peter 5:5–6; Proverbs 3:34
God will meet the needs of the poor in spirit
Spiritual riches are better than material riches
Poverty with righteousness is better
Psalm 37:16; Proverbs 15:16–17, Proverbs 16:8, Proverbs 19:1, Proverbs 19:22, Proverbs 28:6
Poverty with wisdom is better
Proverbs 16:16, Proverbs 19:1, Proverbs 19:22, Proverbs 28:6
Poverty with humility is better
Poverty with peace and quiet are better
Spiritual riches exalt the poor
Spiritual riches endure
Hebrews 10:34, Hebrews 11:37–40; 1 Peter 1:4
Spiritual riches more than compensate for material poverty
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.