Revelation: Smyrna's Poverty

 Revelation: Justification by Faith

Smyrna’s Poverty

[By M.L]

Revelation 2:9 (ESV)
"I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan."

Poverty is something we rarely experience in the West today. We are wealthy and lack nothing. Christians face little open persecution, and prosperity benefits us greatly.
Wealth itself isn’t necessarily bad. It can be used for good purposes, and God’s original creation was never meant to experience lack.
However, sin has turned what could have been a blessing into a curse.
In the life of Jesus, a rich man once approached Him. Here’s what happened:

Matthew 19:16–26 (ESV)
"And behold, a man came up to him, saying, ‘Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?’
17. And he said to him, ‘Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.’
18. He said to him, ‘Which ones?’ And Jesus said, ‘You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness,
19. Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
20. The young man said to him, ‘All these I have kept. What do I still lack?’
21. Jesus said to him, ‘If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.’
22. When the young man heard this, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
23. And Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven.
24. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.’
25. When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, ‘Who then can be saved?’
26. But Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’"

Paul also says:

1 Timothy 6:9–10 (ESV)
"But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.
10. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs."

It’s true that we aren’t asked today to sell all our possessions like the rich man. However, Jesus commanded him to do so at that moment, and he was unwilling. He loved money more than God.
The key here is willingness.
Are we willing to give up everything if God asks? Do we sometimes have other idols?
This is exactly what makes it difficult for a rich person to enter the Kingdom. They already have so much—why would they desire something else? They feel less need than the poor, who more quickly recognize their need for God. They are less likely to be poor in spirit.
Yet, it is not impossible with God for the rich to be saved. Many assume that the rich would never accept the Gospel and see them as so detached that the Holy Spirit couldn’t reach them.
But Jesus made it clear that what is impossible for humans is possible with God. Efforts must be made to bring them under the banner of the cross.
James tells us about true riches:

James 2:5 (ESV)
"Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?"

All the riches here on earth will pass away. It is vanity and futility. People labor their entire lives for it and lust after it, but in the end, they all go to the same place—the grave.
In the grave, there is no more reward. All their possessions are gone. Ultimately, we all die.
But the experience of faith and the Kingdom remains forever. Those who are poor have more opportunities to exercise their faith in moments when everything seems to go wrong. Then God answers them, and they grow even more in faith. They may die in poverty, but they will inherit an eternal Kingdom and enter a city where the streets are made of gold.
Our focus must be more on what is eternal than on what will perish. This can only be done by faith.
Through this, we become willing to endure poverty and grow richer in faith if necessary. Jesus became poor for us so that we might gain eternal riches. Would we not be willing to temporarily experience poverty for Jesus if needed?

2 Corinthians 8:9 (ESV)
"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich."