Rich or Poor Before God?

What makes this statement so surprising?

In Jewish culture, wealth was often seen as a sign of God’s blessing.
Was Abraham not rich? Did David not have abundance? So the disciples were astonished: “If even the rich have difficulty entering, who can be saved?”

But look—Yeshua was not attacking possessions.
He was touching the depths of the heart. He was asking:

“What do you rely on?”

Do you grip your possessions more tightly than you hold God’s hand?
Do you feel secure because of your bank balance… or because the Father’s hand sustains you?

For the Kingdom of God can be received only by those who depend fully on God’s mercy,
not on their own strength or achievements.

But Yeshua was speaking even more deeply.

He was speaking about the wealth of the soul.
About people who feel spiritually rich.
The person who says in his heart, “I am good enough. I already know. I am already worthy.”

But Isaiah says:

“All our righteous deeds are like filthy rags…”

— Isaiah 64:6

And the Lord Yeshua says:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.”

— Matthew 5:3

Poor here does not mean despairing,
but recognizing that without God, I have nothing.

Do you come to God like a beggar, or like a lawyer defending yourself?

Do you say, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner,” or “God, look how well I serve You”?

Is your heart empty and ready to be filled by grace?
Or is it full of achievements and self-sufficiency?

Those who feel rich—whether materially or spiritually—will find it difficult to enter.
Not because God closes the door,
but because they do not feel any need to enter.

They stand outside the gate,
refusing the invitation to the feast because they think they already have enough feasts of their own.

So once again, I ask you—and ask this of your own soul:

“Am I rich… or am I poor before God?” “Do I still need Him… or do I merely use Him?”

For only the poor in spirit will inherit the Kingdom that cannot be shaken.