He expects a spiritually rich body – part 3

Rich in Giving

So if we are to be found by Christ as a spiritually rich body of believers upon his return we need to be rich in love for him and for others, but we also need to possess richness in our giving. As Jesus approached the end of his earthly life he intentionally drew attention to the gift of a poor widow.

Having watched her place two small copper coins in the treasury, he said: “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. ⁴For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on” (Luke 21:3-4).

This poor widow challenges us because although she was materially poor, she was a spiritual millionaire. If Forbes had been compiling a list of spiritually rich people she would have ranked very highly. Giving is important to us as believers because it is at the heart of our faith.

We have been given so much: Life, breath, grace, hope, mercy, food, health, possessions, and certainly our salvation. Yet, we seem to give so little at times. Our brethren in Smyrna were givers. Christ says nothing of their material offerings, but they gave a great deal in the area of physical and emotional offerings. Suffering in prison at the hands of angry men is certainly being rich in giving and Christ praised them for their faith.

Rich in Faith

That thought leads us to another aspect of spiritual richness – faith. James wrote: “Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?” (Jas 2:5). Again, what does it profit it a man to gain the whole world but lose his own soul? The answer is obvious, nothing.

Jesus charged the believers in Smyrna to be “faithful unto death” and he would give them “the crown of life” (2:10). In other words, richness in faith is directly linked to eternity with Christ just as James taught. If our desire is to be with Christ for eternity and be pleasing unto him then our faith must develop a certain richness, a richness that can only be developed by laying roots in another place.

Rich in Heavenly Treasures

Jesus touched upon this truth in his Sermon on the Mount. There he said: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, ²⁰ but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Mt 6:19-20).

The idea here is actually quite simple. As Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Mt 6:21). From the time of the apostles down through the ages men and women have been able to give their lives for the glory of Christ because their treasures were not of this world. Sure they had homes and valuable possessions, but they were not their treasures. Their treasures were the souls of people who had heard the gospel because of their ministry. Their treasure was the glory God had received because of their faithfulness (John 15:1-8).

Rich in Joy

The last attribute we will consider (surely there are more) is that of joy. If we are to be the spiritually rich believers Christ has called us to be we must endeavor to find joy in him regardless of circumstance. Paul phrased it this way: “[S]orrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything” (2 Cor 6:10).

In the context of the Smyrneans we can say that they were humanly sorrowful about suffering, for it was not enjoyable. Yet, they rejoiced because they had been considered worthy to suffer for the sake of Christ (Acts 5:41). They were poor, which likely made life difficult, but through their faithful ministry and sacrifice others became rich as they were, rich in Christ that is. They had nothing materially speaking, but were partakers of eternity with Christ and had heaven to look forward to. Therefore, they were able to be rich in joy.

Coming to terms with these truths will enable us to “not fear what we are about to suffer”. It will give us the ability to stand with saints like Polycarp and call for the wild beasts to be turned lose on us and respond to the threats of the world with eternity in view. He said: “Thou threatenest that fire which burneth for a season and after a little while is quenched: for thou art ignorant of the fire of the future judgment and eternal punishment, which is reserved for the ungodly. But why delayest thou? Come, do what thou wilt.”[i]

Polycarp was spiritually rich. The church in Smyrna was spiritually rich. And if we truly desire to join them then we too must open our ears and listen to what Christ has to say to the churches – to us! If the church today will open its ears and humble its heart then just as Christ promised those in Smyrna, the one who conquers “will not be hurt by the second death” (2:11b). Instead, they will triumph in Christ and rejoice at the sound of the trumpet.

[i]Polycarp 11:1-2.