Buy Gold Refined by Fire - "You Say: "I Am Rich"

"You Say: "I am Rich"

What really is the root of the Laodiceans' problem?    We get a good idea from Jesus' next words:  "Because you say: 'I am rich and have acquired rices and do not need anything at all,' but you do not know you are miserable and pitiable and poor and blind and naked." (Revelation 3:17; Compare Luke 12:16-21)   Living in a wealthy city, they feel confident because of their riches.  Likely, their way of life has been affected by the stadium, theaters, and gymnasiums, so that they have become "lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God."  (2 Timothy 3:4)  But the materially rich Laodiceans are impoverished spiritually.  They have few, if any, 'treasures stored up in heaven.'  (Matthew 6:19-21) They have not kept their eye simple, giving first place in their lives to God's Kingdom.  They are really in darkness, blind, with no spiritual vision.  (Matthew 6:22,23, 33) Moreover, in spite of the fine garments that their material wealthy may have purchased, in Jesus' eyes they are naked.  They have no spiritual garments to identify them as Christians. -Compare Revelation 16:15.

What a shocking condition!  But do we not often see a similar situation nowadays? What is the root cause?  It is a self-confident attitude that springs from reliance upon material possessions and human resources.  Like Christendom's  churchgoers, some of Jehovah's people have deceived themselves, thinking that they can please God by merely attending meetings occasionally.  They try to get by as merely token 'doers of the word."  (James 1:22) Despite repeated warnings from the John class, they set their hearts on stylish clothes, cars, and homes, and on a life centered on recreation and pleasure.  (1 Timothy 6:9, 10; 1 John 2:15-17) All of this results in a dulling of spiritual  perception.  (Hebrews 5:11, 12)  Instead of being listlessly lukewarm, they need to rekindle 'the fire of the spirit" and show refreshing eagerness to "preach the word." -1 Thessalonians 5:19; 2 Timothy 4:2, 5.

How does Jesus regard lukewarm Christians?  His candid works should jolt them:  "You do not know you are miserable and pitiable and poor and blind and naked."  Their consciences are numbed  to the point that they do not even realize their appalling state.  (Compare Proverbs 16:2; 2:12) This serious condition in the congregation cannot be lightly brushed aside.  By setting a fine example of zeal and by shepherding in love, elders and others assigned by them may be able to awaken these straying  "sheep" to their former joy of wholehearted service. -Luke 15:3-7.

Note: I said this before, but I forgot to say that  in order to worship God without going to meetings or to church. You have to have strong faith, deep love, true knowledge by reading the Bible and not listening to the false prophets from other churches except from Jehovah's Witnesses, because only they teach the truth. But as I was saying, you not only have to have deep faith, love, works for Jehovah trying to get others to become Christians and disciples of others, but you have to trust God, have true knowledge, read the Bible daily and follow All his laws and commandments and not imperfect humans. Yes, you need to obey some laws, but Jehovah comes first. When I say obey laws, statutes and commandments, part of that is not celebrating birthdays or any holidays, no spending more time with anything than you do worshiping Jehovah. Also, no watching movies that have ghosts vampires, mummys, demons  or anything like that in them or listening to music like that. It would be easier if you just read the Bible and ask God to help you understand it.  But you have to want to know the truth, because if you don't want to know, it won't do any good to read the Bible.  If your heart isn't in it, God will know and he won't help you understand it. You cannot ride the fence in religion. You either worship God or man, but not both.  Worshiping God has more rewards, believe me.  And he will be the one to judge all of us in the end.  So what he thinks about us is more important than imperfect sinful man.

Next time Buy Gold Refined by Fire - Counsel on 'Becoming Rich'

From the Book of Revelation