For Nothin’ Left To Lose (Kris Kristofferson “Me and Bobby McGee”)

There are themes that show themselves with striking regularity: “freedom” is one such theme. Alexei Navalny’s death, and Julian Assange’s extradition to the States have that theme at the base of those stories. It seems impossible to the rest of us to be locked away in prison for so long, for essentially the same thing, ‘freedom of expression’, but what we’re forgetting is that “we are all just prisoners here
of our own device” (The Eagles “Hotel California”).

I could wax poetical about the chains we find ourselves in, but it should be remembered that life is what we make it. Most of us are looking for security, and what could be more secure than a prison cell, where no one can get at you, and you just have to exist in an environment that dictates all your ‘freedoms’ you’re allowed within that place. Institutionalization is the term for it. It’s not a lot different than working for a living. We think we’re free, but it’s a rat race to get ahead in a world that rewards the rich and punishes the poor. Jesus is quoted as saying,

For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.

Mark 14:7 (KJV)

What did he mean by that statement? It was in reply to an idea that the women with the alabaster jar could have spent her money better by giving it to the poor, rather than anointing Jesus’ feet. Hmm.

And there’s the rub. Poor has a different meaning to Jesus than what we usually think of.

Meaning of “Blessed are the Poor in Spirit”

Being “poor in spirit” does not refer to material poverty or a lack of physical possessions. Instead, it has a more profound spiritual and moral connotation. In Hebrew, “poor” means both the materially poor and the faithful among God’s people. The poor in spirit are those who have the heart of the poor, the same attitude as the poor, and are totally dependent on God. This is related to the words of Christ in Matthew 23:12, “And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” 

Christianity.com

Enough said? “Nothin’ ain’t worth nothin’, but it’s free…”