9I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. (2:9- to Smyrna)
17You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. (3:17,18 to Laodicea)
Thoughts: These verse in two different chapters of Revelation written to two different churches are reminders of what true riches are. Smyrna was persecuted and probably had any wealth they had accumulated confiscated. Persecuted people are usually not very wealthy- or at least not wealthy long. Think of the Christians in northern Iraq forced to leave their homes and possessions behind to live out on a mountain without food or water. They lost everything rather than simply converting to another faith. Does faith matter? To the Christians of Smyrna and northern Iraq it does.
On the other hand is the Church of Laodicea. Laodicea was rich physically but apathetic spiritually. They seemed to be content to be half Christian. Many Christians want Christ only to make them more comfortable in life. They are in the faith not for the glory of Christ, but for their own comfort. The Laodiceans were described as luke warm- not hot or cold- and Christ said he would spew them out of his mouth. The true gold is the gold of faith refined by persecution. Jesus said we cannot love God and mammon (or the "stuff of this world"). We cannot have it both ways. Our hearts need to want God above all else. We should never trade spiritual wealth for physical wealth. The greatest riches are those that could never be taken away. The riches of Christ are so much great- not worth comparing to this world's riches. What worldly wealth for a few years are worth comparing to eternal joy?
Prayer: Lord, may my heart seek your gold, more than the rust of this world.
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