You are Wretched, Pitiable, Poor, Blind, and Naked, Part 3

 You are so poor

We are currently going through this passage.

“For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.” Revelation 3:17

Welcome, today. Yes, you are wretched and pitiable until Jesus calls you out of this world. But did you also know you are poor? I'm not talking in a worldly sense. As a matter of fact, in a worldly sense, you may be very well off. Think about that phrase for a second. We call those that have lots of money, “well off.” People look at people like Elon Musk, Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, or Mark Zuckerburg as “well off.”

Well-off = being in good condition or favorable circumstances, well provided: having no lack, being in easy or affluent circumstances, prosperity.

Most think of that as being the ideal life to strive for. Wealth has become easier and easier to obtain. As long as you are willing to do certain things. We have “YouTubers” making $30,000 dollars a day making 10-minute videos. We have people like “Mr. Beast” who gives away hundreds of thousands a year because he keeps making millions a year. Every kid wants to be the next “influencer” who has millions of “Followers.” This desire, is so great, that we have parents putting their underaged daughters on the internet half naked or worse, dancing for old perverted men to sit and watch.

One of the problems with this, as one famous “influencer” found out, is that you better continue to do these things and never stray from the worldview. She made one joke about a “Transgender” person and got nearly canceled. May still be in the long run. We will have to see what happens.

I wonder though, just how rich are they truly. I would suggest to you that they may be even poorer than you.

Here is another problem. Most of us think of them as “the rich.” Some strive to and will be willing to do, anything, to be them. However, did you know, YOU are rich? You are in the 1 percent? If you live in America, even if you are considered poor in the American sense, you are richer than most in the world. A roof over your head, one or two cars in your driveway, a computer in your pocket, two more TVs, running water, electricity, and food on the table whenever you want it. Whatever you want. So no. You are not off the hook. You ARE the rich Jesus talks about when He says this.

“And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. 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.” Matthew 19:22-24

One of the biggest sins that exist is the sin of covetousness. This is why it is Commandment number 10.

"You shall not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor's." Exodus 20:17

Why? Because of what it can lead to. Lying, cheating, theft, and even murder. Why?

“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.” 1 Timothy 6:10

Jesus, Himself told us we cannot love money and serve God.

“No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” Luke 16:13

Is your J.O.B. your G.O.D.? I'm seriously asking you. Is your job your god? Ridiculous you say? Are you sure? Think about it.

We spend most of our awake time at our jobs. We do things that we would never do for our jobs. Our job pays us money that???

Pays our bills, and gives us a roof over our heads. Food on the table. Cloths on our bodies. Electricity. Vehicle to come and go. Entertainment. We rely on our job to meet our needs. Used to be, men would work 9-5 Monday through Friday. They would go out and do whatever would supply them with the money to live. The wife and mother would stay home to raise the children. Then after dad got home, they would all sit around the table and have dinner. Talking, and sharing their day's events. Then came the weekends, when they would spend time as a family.

Now, most of the time, both the man and woman are out working 24-7. Working 9-5 is nearly all but gone. Weekends off? Rare. Got to make that money.

I know some people that work themselves to death. Some are very successful, out there doing what they do, and then they come home and wonder, "Where did the kids go?" Well, they grew up and graduated. Now they are out on their own. Sorry, you missed them growing up. Got to make that money.

"Do not overwork to be rich; Because of your own understanding, cease!" Proverbs 23:4

When you drive your body, 24-7, you deprive it of sleep, food, and even simple rest. Eventually, it will give out. He who dies with the most toys wins? Got to make that money.

Jesus warned us over and over again about things like this.

“And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Luke 12:15

He says “one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” What you have does not mean anything. It should have no bearing on your life whatsoever. You are not your bank account. You are not the house you live in or the car you drive. None of that matters. Look what he tells us about the rich man.

“And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:16-21

Jesus told us plainly.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

Some of you are thinking, “But I have to work 24-7. I have to work two jobs. You do not understand. I have to pay bills. I have to supply for my daily needs. Gotta make that money.” Jesus has an answer for that as well.

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:25-33

Are you relying on your job? Are you relying on yourself? Or are you trusting in, and relying on God? Trust me, when you put God in charge of your life, you will indeed be richer than you can possibly imagine.

You are not rich at all without Him. You are nothing more than wretched, pitiable, and poor. You are most likely also blind. More on that next time. Do you wish to be truly rich? Do you want to start saving up your 401 E, your eternal retirement plan? Start storing up treasures in heaven? To start? You need Jesus. Say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, You shall be saved." Romans 10:9. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10

May the comfort of the Holy Ghost, and the peace of our Lord Jesus, be with you all. May God bless and be with you, always.

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!