Rich, Increased with Goods and in Need of Nothing Revelation 3:17

John the apostle saw the vision of Jesus in chapter one of “Revelation”, and he began to write to the “seven churches in Asia”. He started with the church located in “Ephesus”, then the “church of Smyrna”, the “church in Pergamos”, the “church in Thyatira”, “the church in Sardis”, “the church in Philadelphia” and finally the “church of the Laodiceans” where He told them, “These things says the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God”. He added, “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot: I would you were cold or hot. So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth.” In chapter three and verse seventeen of Revelation Jesus told the “church of the Laodiceans” how they say “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing” where we read:

Because you say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and know not that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

The verse reads, “Because you say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing;” John began with the word, “because” which means “since and on account of” “you say” or “the church of the Laodiceans utter, proclaim and declare”, “I am rich” which means “they are wealthy, abounding and abundantly supplied”, “and increased with goods” or “richly supplied, having abundance and affluent in resources so that he can give blessings of salvation to all”, “and have need” which means “necessity, duty and business” “of nothing” or “pertaining to not one thing”. Jesus referred to the way the “church of the Laodiceans” thought they were set and secure with their “riches, goods” and lack of “needs”.

The verse continues, “and know not that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:” John added the words, “and know not” which means “and do not perceive, understand, notice, discern and discover” “that you are wretched” or “that the church of the Laodiceans are afflicted, miserable and enduring trial”, “and miserable” which means “pitiable”, “and poor” or “reduced to beggary, begging, asking alms, destitute of wealth, influence, position and honor”, “and blind” which means “opaque or darkened physically and mentally”, “and naked” or “unclad, without clothing, clad in undergarments only and laid open and bare”. Jesus knew the “church of the Laodiceans” were “afflicted, pitiable, destitute of real wealth, darkened in their minds and without clothing”.

When we meditate upon John's words in this verse, we notice how the “church of the Laodiceans” thought they were one way and were actually another. Jesus knew the truth about them. They thought they were “rich, increased with goods and in need of nothing”, but they were actually “poor, miserable, afflicted, destitute of wealth, spiritually blind and without clothing”. There are many people in the world who do not believe they have a need for God and His Son Jesus, and they resist His offer of “salvation” from their sins. Their assessment of themselves is that they are okay or fine the way they are, however, God knows the truth about them even as He knew about the “church of the Laodiceans”. Today is the day of “salvation”, and before the day comes for each person to give an account of their lives before God, let them admit their “poverty” and turn their lives to Him in repentance.

Next time we see John share how Jesus tells the “buy of me gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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