Smyrna: I Know Your Poverty

 

And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things says the first and the last, who was dead, and is alive; I know your works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but you are rich) and I know the blasphemy of them who say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things which you will suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that you may be tried; and you shall have tribulation ten days: be faithful unto death, and I will give you a crown of life. (Rev 2:8-10 KJ2000)

The strangest of things happen in this world.

My friend was the treasurer of a large Russian Orthodox church.  One day he called me over and told me this story.  It seemed that for many years he had been accustomed to discovering a gold coin in the offering each week.  The coin dated from the time Russia was ruled by the Czars.  He would then take the coins to a coin dealer and sell them for the church.  No one knew who was putting this coin in the offering until one of the priests called him to come down to the church.  It seemed that one of the elderly members of the church had died.  The priest, knowing that the old gentleman had promised to leave his belongings to the church, asked the treasurer to take charge of matters.

The old man lived in a shabby apartment.  His only income, it appeared, was Social Security.  Imagine the shock when my friend discovered, tidily kept under the bed, bags and bags of Russian gold coins!   Evidently he thought that these coins were of no value, since the Czars no longer ruled.

Sometimes we see a passage like this and think, "Hmm..afflictions plus poverty equals riches.  That makes no sense."  We're like the old man, not realizing what we have.  These afflictions and poverty for Christ are riches indeed. 

So our Lord encourages us to hold on to our riches!  James tells us that the crown of life is given to those who persevere under trial.  Here our Lord says the trials may include imprisonment or death.

Perseverance

Many of us are capable of great things—once.  I know from experience that even the poorest of players can hit a home run once.  Perseverance, however, is the life of continuing in Christ, from the moment of salvation through the moment of death.  That's the real test.

Under trial

The measure of a baseball manager is not what he can do with the All-Star team;  it is what he can do with a mediocre team.  The measure of a Christian is taken under trial.  When the rest of the world sneers at you for being so stupid as to be a Christian, when you are shunned and want to "fit in," there is a test.  It can get worse—Smyrna knows.