SCRIPTURE:
You say, 'I am rich. I have everything I want. I don't need a thing!' And you don't realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. 18 So I advise you to buy gold from me gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see. 19 I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference.
Revelations 3:17-19
OBSERVATION:
Laodicea was a wealthy city, and the church had also become wealthy. One danger of having everything we need materially is that we can begin to feel as though we don’t need anything from God. We can even mistake money, possessions, comfort, and success for evidence that we are spiritually blessed.
Wealth, luxury, and ease can make us feel confident, satisfied, and self-sufficient. Yet Jesus reveals that outward prosperity does not necessarily reflect our true spiritual condition. No matter how much we accumulate in this life, we have nothing of lasting value if we do not have a vital and growing relationship with God.
Jesus tells the Laodiceans that what they truly need can only come from Him: gold refined by fire, white garments to cover their nakedness, and ointment so that they can see. In other words, Jesus is calling them to recognize their spiritual poverty and depend on Him again.
How does your current level of wealth, comfort, or material security affect your spiritual hunger and dependence on God? Has what God has blessed you with drawn you closer to Him, or has it caused you to become spiritually comfortable and indifferent?
APPLICATION:
I need to be careful not to allow comfort, money, possessions, or success to make me feel like I don’t need God. It is easy to become spiritually complacent when life is going well and my needs are being met. I can have everything materially and still be spiritually empty.
Jesus is reminding me that my greatest need is not more possessions, but more of Him. I’m in a season of less is more. When I start to accumulate to much in my house, I have need to throw it all away, because there’s things that aren’t being used. However I need to examine my heart and ask whether the blessings in my life are drawing me closer to God or making me more independent from Him. I want to remain spiritually hungry, dependent on God, and sensitive to His correction.
When God reveals areas where I have become indifferent or comfortable, I should not ignore His correction. His discipline is evidence of His love and an invitation to repent and return to Him wholeheartedly.
Today, I will intentionally seek God before seeking comfort, success, or material things. I will thank Him for what I have while remembering that my true richness, security, and satisfaction are found in Christ alone.
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding me that true riches are not found in money, possessions, comfort, or success, but in You. Forgive me for the times I have become comfortable and acted as though I could live without depending on You.
Lord, keep my heart hungry for Your presence. Do not allow the blessings You have given me to become a distraction or cause me to become spiritually indifferent. Help me recognize that everything I have comes from You and that nothing in this world can take Your place in my life.
Amen
(Login/Register to leave a comment)
