“We know many poor people indeed who are not merely poor but blessed. For the straits of poverty as such do not make any one of us blessed. But a devout trust that is sustained even through poverty does bless us. Some who have no worldly resources continue in sin and live without faith in God. It is evident that these people cannot be called blessed. Hence we must inquire just who are these blessed of whom the Lord says: ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’ It means that those persons are truly blessed who, having spurned the riches and resources of the world to become rich in God are willing to be poor in the world. Though they indeed may be poor in the sight of the world, they are rich in God. They are needy in the world, but wealthy in Christ.”
Chromatius (345-407) Tractate on Matthew 5:3.