I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. Revelation 2:9 KJV
What is undermining your spiritual riches? Life is more than abundance of material possessions.
We are in a world where, carried away by the purchasing power of money, the average man care less about the well being of his soul. Even so, only those things which are pleasurable to the flesh seem to be the only things needed. And so we greatly forget that a mans life actually proceed from within him, and ‘consisteth not in the abundance of things which he possesseth.’ (Luke 12:16) If the soul is poor, wretched and blind spiritually, the individual is miserable indeed, for that is his true state.
Although the church at Smyna were in tribulation and financial poverty, it never culminated in spiritual poverty for them. They were perfectly in line with God. The Creator himself was their inheritance, all of heavens glory was theirs, great was their treasures in heaven and blessed were they for the world to come. They were heavens heroes in the war of faith, in the battle for truth, in the battle for eternal life against the Satan, the Prince of this present world. Though in this life he had denied them pleasure through poverty, and denied them peace through troubles, they were unyielding. Laden therefore with heavens reward, and worthy before God, angels and saints, and being full of all godly virtues of the soul which make good men and were of more value to God than gold which perisheth, they were great, wealthy and rich indeed. This world passes away but their riches would endure for ever. Their glory was spiritual and could not be short-lived. It was designed to last all eternity.
Revelation 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
On the other hand the church at Laodicea were in their prosperity lapsing into covetousness. They were quite in the awful deceitfulness of riches and were losing precious virtues of the soul which make up man of God’s original design and intent, virtues which make good men, which stood valuable to God and the heavenly world. Such virtues as patience, endurance, tolerance, integrity, love, faith, truth, honesty, sobriety, selflessness, meekness, godliness, fear of God, holiness, gentility etc. These they lost as they mindlessly wallow in material goods which were of no heavenly or eternal value, merely to be short-lived.
What is undermining your spiritual riches? Is it the care of this world? The deceitfulness of riches? Fleshly pleasures? Lust of the eyes? Pride of life? None is worth it. We brought nothing into this world, we are sure to take nothing out. Godliness with contentment is great gain. (1Tim 6:6-7)
Royal Flock of Christ Church 