Some modern day Christians, typified by those who belonged to the Laodecian Church in the early phase of the Church, equate the possession of material riches with the blessings of the Lord and as the result of their "right standing" with Him. This is a deception that Our High Priest - The Word of God, Jesus Christ - warns us of, when he says in Revelation 3:17:

"Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’ - and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked."

Friends, MATERIAL WEALTH DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU PLEASE GOD. It is one's heart and the actions that testify of one's heart's condition that please God. Like Jesus Christ instructs them:

"I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. "

On the other side of this deceit of material riches, live those who are materially poor and persecuted, typified by those who belonged to the Church of Smyrna in the early phase of the Church. No follower of Jesus Christ should ever equate their material poverty and "hard times" as God's disapproval of or curse on them. In fact, the poor and persecuted Church of Smyrna found perfect approval from Jesus Christ as stated in Revelation 2: 8-11,

“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write,

‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not,but are a synagogue of Satan.

Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.”

We have juxtaposed what Jesus Christ said about the materially rich church versus the materially poor church for your review.

What do these two churches show? What is the underlying significance in presenting two churches at polar opposite points - a church that was materially rich that was condemned as being "wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked " (Laodecia) and a church that was materially poor that was praised as being "rich"? The salient point is that there is another type of riches that have absolutely nothing to do with material wealth. It is the type of riches that Jesus Christ, the head of the Church, wants his followers to have. It's the spiritual riches that make us "Christ-like", the type of riches that causes us to endure to the end as good followers of Jesus Christ. True prosperity is the knowledge, understanding and obedience to God through Jesus Christ.

Listen to your High Priest. Examine yourselves. Follow his instructions. Remember, friends, salvation and blessings are for those who endure to the end. I, as our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ did, conclude on this matter: "“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”