“Be Earnest And Repent”

“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You 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. I 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.

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Revelation 3:14-22

The Christians in Laodicea had the wrong perspective about wealth. By all appearances, they were rich. They had plenty of earthly goods and thought they needed nothing – not even Jesus. But Jesus had a different perspective. In spite of their material prosperity, He saw they were miserable, “poor, blind and naked.” In His eyes they had nothing. So He invited them to become truly rich by seeking what only He could provide: purity, character, righteousness, and wisdom.

Don’t make the same mistake the Laodiceans did. Instead, keep your perspective right about what it means to be rich. True wealth is not measured by what you have but by who you are in Christ.

The poorest person is he whose only wealth is money.

Our Daily Bread - March 15, 2011