I Samuel 2:5
“Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, and the hungry have ceased to hunger. Even the barren has borne seven, and she who has many children has become feeble.”
God has compassion for those in need. All throughout scripture He declares His concern for them. Does that mean He doesn’t care for those who are in comfort? That depends.
One of the beatitudes says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of God” (Matthew 5:3). We are all poor in spirit. Most just don’t know it. To further that point, in a different portion of scripture, Jesus says, “If you knew you were sick, that would ok. But because you say, ‘I am without sin’, you are guilty”, (my paraphrase).
In the verse sited, Jesus was having a debate with the pharisees; these were the religious rulers of the day. They were so confident in their righteousness, that they weren’t open to the messiah. They would give reasons for their righteousness; “I fast twice a week, I give, I keep the law”, and so on (my paraphrase). This confidence in their own deeds distances them from God’s grace. Another passage says that He is “opposed to the proud”.
We need to say with Peter, “so then who can be saved?” Jesus’ answer is the remedy, “For what is impossible for man, is possible with God.” Of course, God wants us to do good deeds, but because it’s the right thing, not to be right with God. Our transgressions have put a stain on our record. We need His forgiveness. Understanding this and our tendency towards selfishness and sin is to be aware of our poverty of spirit. When this is our mindset we constantly go to God. This hunger drives us to the Lord. He will never turn us down.
Lord, thank You that You’ve shown us our lack and how You seek to fill it. Help us to ever go to You.