Evangelical Poverty.

Evangelical poverty.
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From the worldly point of view, the word 'poverty' merely refers to the state of being poor.

From the spiritual point of view it has a deeper meaning.

What is merely a state for the world

is a virtue for a Christian.

From the Christian point of view there are two kinds of poor people:

1.Those who are economically poor.

2. Those who are poor in spirit.

The first category people can be

(a) poor in wealth, but rich in spirit.

or

(b) poor in wealth as well as in spirit.

By 'rich in spirit'

I refer to those persons

whose minds are attached to riches or worldly things

whether they possess them or not.

The second category people are those

who are mentally detached from wealth,

whether they possess it or not.

The poverty of those who are poor in spirit is called

'Evangelical poverty.'

Or

'Biblical poverty.'

It is called so as it was mentioned by Jesus in the Gospel.

Jesus said,  "Blessed are the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs." (Matthew. 5:3)

Jesus observed this poverty Himself though the whole universe is His property.

"But Jesus told him,

Foxes have holes,

and the birds of the air their resting-places;

the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head."(Luke.9:58)

When we were created we were gifted with freedom of choice.

Two worlds have been presented before us for our choice, 

this world

and

the next.

We will be mentally attached to the world of our choice.

If we choose the kingdom of heaven

our mind will be detached from the things of this world. 

Whether we like it or not we will have to live in this world for a certain period.

Though we are in this world, we are not of this world.

As we are of the next world

our mind should be totally detached

from the things of this world

and attached to those of the next world.

As long as we are in this world we will have to use the things of this world.

That we should do to prepare ourselves for the next world.

Using is not attachment.

We use a banana leaf to place our food on it while eating.

After the meals meals we throw the leaf away, 

because we  are not attached to it.

If we are not attached to a thing,

we will not feel sad if we happen to lose it.

Suppose we are very rich,

if we are not attached to it

we will not be depressed

even if we happen

to lose the whole wealth.

With Job we will say,

"The Lord gave, the Lord has taken away;

nothing is here befallen but what was the Lord’s will;

blessed be the name of the Lord.[" (Job. 1:21)

Crores of rupees pass through a bank cashier daily,

but,  not a single paisa belongs to him.

In the same way,  we may come across lot of things in this world,

but not a single atom belongs to us.

We are merely users, not owners.

What is the use of being attached to a thing which is not ours?

There is only one thing that belongs to us fully, love of God.

There is only one person,  who belongs to us fully, God.

Only to Him that we must be fully attached.

As far as worldly things are concerned, 

we must be poor in spirit,

that is, 

spiritually non-attached.

By this evangelical poverty, 

we will automatically become evangelizers,

that is,

those who spread the Gospel.

By being owners of evangelical poverty

  we can   spread the good news of Jesus

more by life than by words.

We can spread the Gospel by living it.

Lourdu Selvam.