“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” -Matthew 5:3
Deep down, we want to leave a mark—something lasting, meaningful. A legacy. But to do so, we must confront one of our greatest, most hidden enemies: self-reliance. Jesus opened His most famous sermon with this radical statement: “Blessed are the poor in Spirit.” Before we can build anything of eternal value, we must first be broken by the reality of our own bankruptcy.
To be “poor in spirit” doesn’t mean walking around feeling worthless or wallowing in shame. It means recognizing the truth: we are nothing—apart from God. We aren’t just low on spiritual resources—we’re flat broke.
Over the years of serving God, I’ve realized how critical it is for God to remind me that my failure to be poor in spirit will completely sabotage any legacy. Eternal legacy does not happen without God. If we want our life to be remembered a million years from now, here are a few principles for securing our legacy:
1. We must be poor in spirit for salvation: The starting point
We must first belong to Jesus, the keeper of God’s Kingdom. Entrance begins with poverty of spirit. This means admitting we are morally bankrupt and completely incapable of being reconciled to God. Like debtors filing for bankruptcy, we come before the Judge with nothing in our hands, asking that everything be forgiven.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
Even our best efforts; that is, our “righteousness”—are like filthy rags before a holy God. (Isaiah 64:6) Unless we acknowledge this truth, we will never accept the full payment Jesus made on the cross. Trying to earn salvation or “help Him out” is not just prideful—it’s fatal. It keeps us from the grace that reconciles us, transforms us, and positions us to live a life that truly matters.
2. We must be poor in spirit for daily living.
Even after we are born again, the temptation to rely on ourselves doesn’t go away. That’s why being “poor in spirit” is not just a one-time confession; it’s a daily attitude.
And this is where most Christian legacies die.
Why? Because the Christian who lives by their own wisdom and strength leaves behind earthly accomplishments—at best. But the one who lives by total dependence upon God walks in eternal fruitfulness.
Jesus said: “I am the vine, you are the branches…without Me you can do NOTHING.” John 15:5
The Psalmist cried: “My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:2
We cannot bear lasting fruit without 100% dependence. Legacy is not built on talent or drive—it’s built on surrender to Christ.
3. We must understand that self-reliance is just a nice word for “pride” which is the great saboteur of legacy
The original lie in the Garden was that we could live independently from God. Eve thought she could do life without Him. We do the same when we rely on our own understanding instead of daily submitting to God’s Word and His Spirit.
Self-reliance is pride disguised as strength.
It is a curse. It is a spiritual blindness that robs us of God’s best life. It silences His guidance, stifles His power, and derails the Divine purpose He has planned for us.
God does not use self-sufficient people to accomplish the extraordinary; He uses those who understand they are weak and beggarly without Him.
4. We must have the mind and attitudes of Christ: His strength will be revealed in the paradox of our acknowledged poverty.
We are not talking about physical poverty—but an acknowledgment of our absolute helplessness without Him—in EVERY circumstance. Whether we are physically rich or poor, we are nothing without Him. Jesus begins His Sermon on the Mount with the command to be “poor in spirit” because it lays the groundwork for every blessing that follows. You can’t hunger for righteousness, be a peacemaker, or endure persecution—in your own strength. You must first be emptied of pride before God can fill you with power.
Do you desire to leave a legacy that can’t be erased by time, tarnished by culture, or buried by death?
There is one answer: Surrender to Jesus and completely rely on Him in every area of life. The greatest threat to our eternal legacy is failing to live poor in spirit. It’s simple: we can’t do it on our own. We can’t even breathe without God.
A life built on self-reliance may succeed in the eyes of the world, but it will collapse before the throne of God. Only when we empty ourselves of pride will God fill us with the power to do things that endure forever.
When folks ask me what I want others to remember about me, it’s not that I was a great mom or lawyer. It’s not that I was clever or could hike for miles. I want my legacy to be this: when people knew me, they saw and heard Jesus. A million years from now, He will still be the King.
Daily Challenge:
Today, identify one area where you’ve been leaning on your own understanding. Surrender it to God in prayer. Make dependence your strength—and build your legacy on Him.
Prayer:
Lord, strip me of self-reliance and make me poor in spirit. Remind me daily of my need for You—not just to be saved, but to live a life worth remembering. Let every step I take and every corner of my life reflect dependence on You alone. May my legacy not be built on my name, but on the power of Your grace working through my surrendered life. Amen.
