Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit — A Leadership Reframe

If I were writing a leadership manual, I probably wouldn’t start with “Blessed are the poor.” But that’s exactly where Jesus starts.

In Matthew 5:3, Jesus says:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

This is not how we usually talk about leadership. We talk about being strong, confident, decisive. But Jesus is pointing to something different — a leadership rooted in humility and dependence on God.

What Does ‘Poor in Spirit’ Mean?

Being poor in spirit isn’t about thinking less of yourself; it’s about being honest about your need for God. It’s recognizing that every breath, every decision, every step forward depends on Him.

This hit me hard when I got this reminder after my first chapel in Seminary. The topic was on starting our studies with the Beattitudes in-mind. Feeling a bit proud and in some ways "special" that I had the opportunity to start such an undertaking as a Masters Degree ( I am the first in my family to even graduate college), I was handed a slip of paper as I walked out the door of a random beatitude. It were these very words of Jesus and it was not what I wanted to think of.

When leaders forget they’re dependent, they drift toward pride. And pride will break a leader faster than pressure ever could.

Leadership From Dependence

When you know you’re poor in spirit, you stop pretending you have all the answers.

You ask for help.

You seek counsel.

You pray first.

And you lead in a way that points people to God, not just to you.

Paul said it this way in 2 Corinthians 12:9:

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Good leadership doesn’t hide weakness; it leverages weakness as a platform for God’s strength.

A Moment I Learned This the Hard Way

Early in ministry, I thought I had to be the person with every solution. I overcommitted. I stopped asking for input. And one day, I realized I was tired — not the good kind of tired from serving, but the bad kind of tired from carrying what God never asked me to carry alone.

The turning point was admitting, “I can’t do this without You, God.” That admission didn’t disqualify me — it freed me.

The Kingdom Belongs to the Dependent

If you’re leading a team, a family, or even just your own life — hear this: You don’t have to be enough. The kingdom belongs to the poor in spirit, not the self-sufficient in spirit.

Reflection Question:

Where do you need to stop pretending you’re strong enough on your own?

Keep Looking Up,

Micah