In Revelation 2 and 3, Jesus gives his evaluation to seven early churches. His words are encouraging and challenging, and His words are true. As we read these words as modern readers, we are able to see that there is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9). We are able to see ourselves in these words, and we are able to be both encouraged and challenged as the modern church.
The seventh and final church that Jesus addresses is the church of Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22). Jesus’ words are direct and they drive us to examine our own lives in our church today.
The Error of Christian Self-Sufficiency
For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. – Revelation 3:17 (ESV)
The Laodicean church had begun to believe a deadly lie. They began to believe that all of their earthly riches and their earthly means had made them self-sufficient. They had examined their lives and said, “We need nothing.” However, Jesus examines their lives and says, “You are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.” And what is worse, Jesus says, “You don’t even realize it!”
Have we begun to believe this lie?
- Do we trust in our wealth over Christ?
- Do we pursue wealth for our security in this life? Or do we feel and know that we are secure in Christ?
- Do we hope in our wealth and simply seek to use Christ, or do we hope in Christ and seek to simply use our wealth?
Wealth and riches are not evil in and of themselves, but Scripture is clear that earthly riches can be a great deceiver of the soul. They can lull us into self-reliance, blind us to our deep needs, and deceive us into believing that we can compensate for our spiritual lack with early abundance. Jesus reveals this to be self-deception.
The Remedy of Christian Self-Sufficiency
I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. – Revelation 3:18 (ESV)
Christ extends an offer to the Laodicean church. He counsels them to come to Him for their true wealth, to come to Him for clothes to cover their nakedness, and to come to Him for medicine for their blindness. In a community who took great pride in their affluence, their textile work, and their eye medicine, Jesus spoke directly to their self-sufficiency. The things that they relied upon were the very things that were blinding them to their real needs, and they were the very things that Christ offered to them through Himself.
Jesus examined all of their riches and their self-reliance and offered them to come to Him. Jesus is better than earthly and temporary affluence. Jesus is better than the finest earthly luxuries. Jesus is better.
The Joy of Repentance
Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. – Revelation 3:19 (ESV)
As a parent of young kids, it is often quite easy to see the things that they do that endanger themselves. It is easy to see the things that they do that will lead them down unfavorable paths in life. And as a parent, it is my responsibility to reprove and to discipline. I love my kids, and therefore I discipline them. The most hateful thing that I could do to my kids is to neglect my responsibility as their dad, and to leave them to themselves and to offer no discipline.
God says, “I reprove and discipline those whom I love.” The sting of conviction, discipline, and rebuke is a great proof of the Father’s love for us. He disciplines His children because He loves His children.
Because of this, Jesus says, “Be zealous and repent.” Jesus doesn’t call the church to begrudgingly repent. He calls them to be zealous and repent!
For anyone who can see themselves in Jesus’ words to the Laodicean church, Revelation 3:14-22 offers good news of hope. Jesus offers you Himself. He is better than any worldly affluence, and His arms are open to us to come to Him.
Repent means to turn around. Repentance is a 180-degree turn. In this text, repentance is turning from our identity as the self-sufficient Christian to the Christ-Reliant Christian, and we do this by hearing Christ call, realizing that He is better, and pursuing Christ over all else.
* Luke 18:18-30 records the story of Jesus’ interaction with the rich young ruler. For deeper study, this text would be a great resource.