3:17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.

YOU say

Self assessment usually leads to showing ourselves in "good light" and not "admitting our faults". While nobody wants to hear bad truth, our approval and evaluation really comes from the Lord (2 Corinthians 10:12-18).

  1. ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’

    2. If materially RICH —> faith in God usually is lacking. If spiritually RICH —> they were blinded or oblivious to the intrusion of "worldly things".

    Christ gave us the characteristics of a spiritual Christian in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12).

  2. But you do not realize that you are
    • * wretched,
    • * pitiful,
    • * poor,
    • * blind
    • * and naked.

The Laodiceans could not see their poor state of health in the body (of Christ?) and soul (inward condition). The Smyrnans were recognized (Revelation 2:9) as having poverty (but they were rich). What a contrast between two churches! Lastly, nakedness talks about a shameless way of "showing off" a spiritual way of life (Revelation 16:15) when, in fact, the flesh is doing something totally different. The walk does not match the talk; we need to wear the spiritual garments of purity, righteousness, and the glory of God.

Bibliography