Poor is a word that means to lack something. It can be used of financial means, understanding, knowledge, or doctrine. If we are not careful with context it can be miss applied by implying it is addressing someone who is in financial need, but really is lacking in other areas.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus refers to the poor in spirit as being happy ones (Matthew 5:3). He is referring to the Jews during the Tribulation period who will be lacking information concerning what the man of lawlessness is doing in the temple after Israel flees to the wilderness because he has set himself up as God. When Jesus said He came to preach good news to the poor, He was not referring to those who lacked financial means, but the truth. He healed the lame, cleansed the lepers, even raised the dead, while presenting the good news to those who were poor in understanding (Matthew 11:5).
We live in a time where wealth and numbers are more valuable to the assemblies than truth, because they are poor in doctrine (Revelation 3:14-22). Many claim to follow Jesus, but really are just mockers of the truth following after their own ungodly desires (Jude 17-19). They masquerade as messengers of light, just as Satan does, while walking in darkness not knowing where they go and leading others astray with them.
When it comes to the things of the world system and religion, they are described as weak and poor (Galatians 4:9-10). Touch not, taste not, observance of days, months, new moons. These have an appearance of wisdom but are just weak and poor self-made religions serving to indulge the flesh (Colossians 2:21-23).
It is far greater of an issue to be poor in doctrine than to be in financial need. In Revelation, Christ councils us to seek after the things of value from Him, not wealth like a church that is lukewarm (Revelation 3:14-22). How? By seeking out the assembly that is guarding the Word and not denying His name (Revelation 3:8). This is an assembly that will teach how to live out the Christian life, not by law, but by grace. Today, these assemblies are small, but not weak. They are not the reformed, covenant, community, progressive, catholic, or denominational churches (Revelation 3:9), who are called out in Revelation for their heresy (Revelation 2:18-29; 3:1-6, 14-22). The focus in these assemblies will not be in worship services but teaching proper doctrine so the attendees come to a full experiential knowledge of Christ through understanding the Word of God and living it out. You won’t see them holding community events or other worldly focus ministries that only seek to make their followers feel good about themselves; rather, they will be the ones who care for each other and look after each other as a family. They are the ones that put the saints first in all things and love through actions not words (Galatians 6:10; John 13:34). They are the ones who are not poor in the areas that matter.
