For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. (ESV)

Have you ever been fooled into buying something that is worthless? Hans Christian Anderson wrote a children’s story called “The Emperor's New Clothes,” which parallels our Scripture today. If you are unfamiliar, it is the tale of an emperor who is fooled by a pair of con men. They convince him to purchase an expensive new wardrobe they would make, but they convince the emperor that only those who are extremely clever will be able to see the new clothing. The men replace the royal wardrobe with ...nothing. At the risk of not seeming clever, the emperor and his subjects pretend they see the most amazing clothing, but he’s naked. In the end, it takes an honest child stating the obvious, that there is indeed no clothing, for others to forget about seeming clever and instead trust their eyes.  

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Most of us read this story and think, “Yeah, right! That would never happen. No one could be so foolish as to believe they are clothed when they are naked.” Today’s Scripture, however, seems to suggest that this is the reality of many. John’s writing to the church of Laodicea emphasizes how distasteful God finds the lukewarm church. It is a jarring reality check for this church that seems to assume they please God, and God tells them they do not. It is a bit perplexing how these Christians could be so far off from God’s standard. When measured next to the riches of Heaven, our worldly treasures make us look poor, even pitiable. But why? Because God uses a different measuring stick altogether.

Many of us may think we cannot relate to this Scripture because we would not say “I am rich” or “I need nothing.” In fact, most of us have a significant list of things that we do not have that would, in our minds, prove we are not rich. You may not have the most expensive clothes like the emperor in our story, but maybe you would admit your financial independence is a source of pride. Do you mistake the source of your riches and what purpose they should serve? This is the point our Scripture is making. We look at our wealth, or lack thereof, all wrong. In our story, Satan is the con artist, twisting the value and purpose of wealth into a standard by which we measure our societal standing. But in God’s upside-down Kingdom, we are not to care about the world’s standards for wealth. Matthew 6:19-20 tells us to store up treasures in Heaven, not on Earth.  

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Several years ago, my husband and I were working jobs we hated and feeling stuck. A friend of ours asked a question that has become a grounding standard we still use, especially when tempted by the worldly vortex of wanting more. He asked, “If God never blessed you again, if you only ever had the cars, jobs, paycheck, and house you currently have, would Jesus still be enough?” Ouch! In other words, are you living for worldly riches, or do you recognize the vast riches you already have in Jesus? What purpose do your riches serve?  

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If we were to read on past verse 17 today, we would see that God offers us so much more than the things we think make us rich. He offers us fellowship with him. How can you be richer than being in close relationship with the God who created abundance? So, our true richness can come when our minds shift to viewing wealth through God’s lens. Matthew 6:33 says to seek God’s Kingdom and his righteousness. If we are seeking God’s Kingdom, our purpose is focused. Our financial decisions will be driven by the desire to further his Kingdom rather than our own desires. I pray we live in such a way that the value we assign to our riches is in direct correlation with how God can best use them to further his Kingdom.  

God, thank you for your Word and the reminder of where our riches are found. We sometimes are blinded by the world’s standards and forget your Kingdom operates with a different value system. I pray for the zeal that you desire in your church and that your people would not be blind to the source of their wealth, but their eyes would be open and their mission clear. Help us to seek you. Amen.