TODAY’S MEDITATION – Where is your wealth? (Revelation 3:17-18)

Today’s passage says: “You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.”
My brother, my sister, these are the words of Jesus speaking to the church of Laodicea, a church known for its great wealth. Here, The Lord Jesus is telling the Laodiceans to buy their gold from Him. You see, it is very easy to get caught up in the drive and struggle to be rich rather than applying your attention and efforts on the things of God. But The truth is that Jesus showed us the example Himself when He was tempted by Satan with the things of the world, fame, wealth, power, and even the simplicity of eating (Matthew 4). Then later, Jesus tells us to seeks the Kingdom of God, not striving to be rich (Matthew 6).
Now, on today’s passage, He is telling us that gathering the wealth of this world does not make us rich. Instead, it makes us naked. Indeed, let’s remember what happened in the Garden of Eden: after disobeying God, Adam and Eve realised that they were now naked. Their nakedness was not only physical: they had lost the dominion on things that God had given them, in other words, it looked like everything was still theirs, but it was already in the hands of the devil, therefore they were “wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked” (Revelation 3:17). It is the same with us today: when we do not focus on Jesus Christ, every thing we may seem to possess is unreal because the real treasure we have is spiritual, in Christ. Laodicea was proud to have lots of cloth and dyeing industries, yet Christ told them to buy white garments (His righteousness) from Him. Laodicea prided itself on eye ointment that healed many eye problems at that time, but Christ told them to buy ointment for their eyes so they could see the truth (John 9:39). In fact, Christ was showing the Laodiceans that true value was not in material possessions on this earth but in the right relationship with God.
My friend, your possessions and achievements are valueless compared to the everlasting future of Christ Kingdom. Therefore, do not focus on trying to become rich in this depraved world. Instead, ensure the Lord can count on you to bring His Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven. Stay blessed in Jesus’ name.