This is happening today in many churches. The poor and afflicted members aren’t shown as much favor as those members who are wealthy and always have everything going well for them. And the modern “gospel” of success and prosperity is shaming the poor man and making him think that he must be in sin, not because there is actually sin in his life, but because of his poverty. What an indictment against the poor! And those churches that are large and wealthy are seen as particularly blessed, while those churches that are small and struggling are seen as not so blessed, and even thought of as not in the will of God as they should be. Yet, the Lord Jesus sees things entirely different. In the book of Revelation, there were seven churches that He delivers the prophetic word to. Two of these seven churches were the church of Smyrna, and the church of Laodicea. The church of Smyrna was physically poor, going through severe tribulation, and was suffering tremendously, but hear what the Lord said to them: “I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich)…” (Rev. 2:9). Even though they are physically extremely poor, the Lord calls them “rich”, that is, spiritually. He had nothing to rebuke that church for, but rather commended them and encouraged them to persevere. But the church of Laodicea was a financially prosperous church that was rich on earth, so wealthy that they needed nothing, and the Lord said to them: “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked” (Rev. 3:17). Even though they appeared to be blessed and physically prosperous, the Lord rebuked them sharply and called them “poor” in his sight. How many churches today are physically prosperous and have large congregations but are lukewarm and wretched in the sight of God?
Posted on: Fri, 19 Sep 2014 00:09:35 +0000
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