Revelation 2:8-9
These words introduce the second of the letters to the churches, sent to the church in Smyrna. There was no surprise that the first letter went to Ephesus because it was definitely seen as the most influential of the cities. However, Smyrna was a close rival. It was a fine and busy commercial centre having its own well protected port. It had been founded long ago as a Greek colony but in about 600 BC it had been largely destroyed by an invading army. Hundreds of years later it was reconstructed. What was produced was a fine city, planned with broad straight avenues and pavements. It had truly come back to life, and so it was more than appropriate that they received a message from the Lord who had passed from death to life.
The Lord’s message was that he totally understood where they were coming from. He knew just how much they had suffered and how grindingly poor they were. The word that is used for ‘suffering’ is one that describes someone who is crushed under a heavy weight. And the word that is used here to describe their poverty is not the one which describes someone who has nothing extra, but someone who has nothing at all. They were in a bad way, but the risen Lord assured them that he knew all about it, and he also knew that they were rich. They might not have had worldly riches, but they had real wealth. They had the Holy Spirit and the blessing of faith.


We are continually bombarded with images of human riches. The advertisers have a very clear idea of what it means to be rich, and it has to do with the latest technology, fast cars, grand property, expensive holidays and the like. None of these things are necessarily bad but they have nothing to do with real wealth. The treasures which last are ones that only the Lord can give to us, and the Christians of Smyrna needed to look beyond their suffering and poverty to see and enjoy their real wealth.




QUESTION
In what ways do you consider yourself to be rich?
PRAYER
Loving God, thank you that you know my situation completely and that you show me how to be really rich. Amen

Released on 25 Feb 2023