Revelation 3:18-19
I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.
My mother used to jokingly say this when she felt she was being extravagant. “I wonder what the poor people are doing this evening.” She never had much, but according to the vast majority of people in the world, she was rich. The church in Laodicea was made up of the idle rich, those who had no needs and lots of leisure time. They may have seriously asked that question, not knowing that Jesus considered them poor wretches. They wore the finest clothes but Jesus recommended the white wedding garments that come from being invited to the banqueting table of the KIng of kings.
They didn’t know they were poor and naked because they saw such people and they had little to live for and less hope. Imagine their surprise, and the surprise many people today are in for, when Jesus comes for his bride and these beautiful people are left outside, like actual poor people! They need reproof and discipline. In this case, Jesus may be saying they need to become broke so they can be broken before the Lord. Sometimes to lose everything can bring about the biggest gain as we see the true meaning of riches. What are the poor doing? Being blessed!
O Heavenly Father, you have prepared a wedding feast like none we have ever seen. What’s more, we are invited. Help us not to miss the party. In Jesus’ name. Amen.