In the previous Mid-Week Post, the focus was on this idea that somehow we think we can be “saved” by God without “loving” him and having a “hunger” for him.  A.W. Tozer’s book is pushing us to figure out what keeps us from pursuing God.  He makes a great point when he tells us that what we need but are at the same time repulsed by is: “soul poverty.”

Matthew 5:3 – Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

There are really only 2 overarching categories from which we choose: (1) God & (2) Things. In essence, we pursue one or the other, there is no middle ground.  We like to think that there is, that we can pursue a great many things while heading in the general direction of pursuing God.  But this is not the case.  We have opportunities to do a great many things and focus our energies in a variety of areas as a result of pursuing God, but the pursuit of God must come first, otherwise it is bypassed by the ”thing” we decide to pursue in his place. Tozer puts it more eloquently as follows:

The way to deeper knowledge of God is through the lovely valleys of soul poverty and abnegation [denial] of all things. The blessed ones who possess the kingdom are they who have repudiated [disowned] every external thing and have rooted from their hearts all sense of possessing.

The question we have to ask: is it that simple? (or maybe the real question is: would we call that simple?) If it’s as simple as Tozer lays it out, then all we need to do is get rid of our possessions – take a vow of poverty – and problem solved.  Pursuing God means being poor.  But this is obviously not the case, and definitely not what Tozer is communicating.  There is a tension.  We have to be poor in a sense, but it’s not exactly the physical sense. Somehow we have to follow Tozer’s advice regarding the category of “things”: we must be able to have without possessing.

This seems like a subtle distinction.  But maybe it’s not so subtle as it first appears.  The distinction is not in the definition of the words, but is instead in the intent of the words.  Tozer is focusing on category 2 – “things.” For Tozer possess = desire and have = the presence of.  Thus we can have things (their present in our lives) but by being present they are not necessarily what we desire above all else. He knows our hearts want all the time.  We constantly desire.  We were created to desire and pursue, but what category have we decided to pursue?  If it is #2 (anything but God) then we have filled our souls with “things,” and until they are no longer our desire, God will never be our pursuit. That is why we must desire “soul poverty” because we have filled our souls with what God created as opposed to filling our souls with the Creator himself.  But now it gets tough – abstractly we nod our heads and give silent “amens” – but since there are only two categories, we need to be real with ourselves as we think about what is in our hearts, what we actually desire to possess. Acceptance to the right college? Attention from the right person? An emotional high? Entertainment? A feeling of superiority? Do you need a pretty good litmus test, try this - do you desire things for you? If so, you’re like the rest of us and you are struggling with desiring category 2 for your heart. (But Noah, If I’m desiring God, and pursuing him, then it’s in my heart so I’m doing that for me too… so the litmus test is faulty. Well, no.  Desire for God isn’t desiring God so we can get something out of it; it’s not for us, it’s for him. So if you’re arguing that you can desire God for yourself, then either you mean you desire God because he is God [and you thus mean the same thing I'm saying], or you desire some type of security for yourself, or some emotional high for yourself, and you’re labelling it “desire for God” [at which point you have failed the litmus test].)

So we’re left needing “soul poverty.” I have to be honest, reading the phrase “soul poverty” I took issue with Tozer’s term.  Aren’t our souls all the more full if we trade in meaningless possessions for an infinite God? Yes.  But is that how it will feel at first? No. I really do think Tozer’s term is appropriate because we have so long (our entire lives) struggled to desire anything other than something/anything from the category of “Things.”  We have lost the ability to gauge something other than the finite.  We have an infinite God that far surpasses all we can comprehend, and yet we struggle with wondering if he’s enough to really keep us busy/happy/entertained. I want God & an iPod Touch.  Maybe you want God & a girlfriend/boyfriend/fiance/any meaningful relationship. Maybe you want God & acceptance. Maybe you want God & the career you’ve dreamed of.  Maybe you want God & a baby. Maybe when your honest with yourself, you struggle the same as me, and you realize many times you don’t want God & something – you only want the something, and you tack God on cause you’re supposed to. You need what I need, “soul poverty.”

We need souls emptied of the pursuit of category 2 so they can be souls full of category 1. So first things first – we need to want to do something about our desire for anything & everything we put in the place of God. So do this: Pray for “soul poverty” this week.