The Rich Church That Was Poor
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin ArticlesThe city of Laodicea was rich, and so were many members of the Lord’s church. The area thrived on three enterprises: finance, textiles, and eye salve. The city was a major banking center, and the most popular clothes among Rome’s upper class were black wool garments made in Laodicea. Even their eye salve was sold far and wide. The people of this rich church bragged that they had “need of nothing” (Revelation 3:17 – KJV).
How wrong they were! Jesus accused them of being spiritually “lukewarm.” He was ready to vomit them out (Revelation 3:15-16). Using illustrations He knew they would understand, He said they needed to buy from Him “gold refined in the fire” “” the riches of heaven. They should obtain robes washed white in the blood of the Lamb. They needed to anoint their eyes with eye salve (allowing God’s word to give them spiritual sight), so they could accept and understand the truth of God (Revelation 3:18).
Are we spiritually poor like the church at Laodicea? Do our physical goods and assets far outweigh our spiritual wealth? Note that Christ stood at the door of the Laodicean church and kept knocking, waiting for them to recognize their need for Him (Revelation 3:20). Is He waiting for us as well?
Let’s remember that the richest people on earth are those who invest their lives in spiritual things (Matthew 6:19-20; Colossians 3:1-2; 1 Timothy 6:17-19).