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
We can try to justify our actions (or lack of) in this life. We can make excuses and give reasons for what we did. There comes a moment,
however, where we have to face the truth, when we are confronted with facts which cannot be refuted. Before the the Laodiceans face the cold hard facts the Lord clarifies the reason that their actions are sickening to Him. (This is another staggering thought – the Lord who loves and died for His church is absolutely disgusted with their behavior.) He is about to share some very straightforward and painful truth with them but first the Lord addresses the rationalization they use for their sin.
I need nothing The Laodiceans are proud. Rather than glorifying the Lord their real intent is to glorify themselves. This is done under a thin veneer of false humility but the Lord sees the pride in their hearts. They are self-sufficient, God does not need to help them.
Not realizing What a warning to us today. The church has become so worldly they do not realize their sin. They want to be like the world while maintaining their distinctives. Over time the church, called by the Lord Jesus Christ to reach the world with the Gospel, was converted by the world. Now the Lord tells them four things that their lukewarm condition has produced. The reality is much different than they imagined.
That you are wretched The Greek word means beaten-down from continued strain, leaving a person literally full of callouses (deep misery). This describes a person with severe side-effects from a great, ongoing strain (significant hardships) and struggle. Doing the Lords work in their own strength is a heavy burden and has taken its toll.
Pitiable They are to be pitied for their decisions. It is evident they have been very foolish is deciding what is true value.
Poor The word is used of one who crouches and cowers. They are beggarly. They are poor, needy, destitute of wealth, influence, position, or honors. In other words their true condition is exactly opposite what they think they it is.
Blind The word refers to physical or mental blindness. The church in Laodicea is blind to their true condition. What the Lord warned about in Matthew has happened to this church. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness! No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other.” The church learned to love the things of this world and has come to despise their Master.
Naked The word refers to being stripped or poorly clothed. Like the king in the fairy tale who thought he was finely clothed only to discover he was naked before all, this church is naked before the God of heaven.
What can we learn? All the things the city of Laodicea was renown for were things this church lacked. Fine clothing, wealth, prominence and eye salve of the city did the church no good in their
spiritual standing before the Lord. When we copy the world we can be sure it produces nothing of eternal value. Rich? No – they are poor and needy in God’s sight.