Can God’s Blessing Become a Curse?

We had a deacon’s meeting this week in which we rejoiced in the financial blessings God has given our congregation through a very uncertain economic climate.

It was almost 8 years ago now we embarked on a faith journey to take on the largest building project in our church’s history. We had hoped we could keep the budget on the project under $3 million, but after all was finished the entire endeavor came in at around $4.3 million. It took four years from the beginning of planning to occupancy. We knew it would take hard work and sacrifice, but even more so a dependence upon the provision of God.

We are now in the building and are very close to having it paid off completely. Our architect told us recently that if we were to build the same structure today, it would cost in excess of $8 million.

But as we rejoiced in God’s provision a passage of scripture kept running through my mind.

Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. (Revelation 3:17-18)

It is an odd reality that the blessings of God can become a curse if we receive them the wrong way.

God’s abundant provision does not mean that we are getting high grades from on high. He sometimes blesses us just because He wants to do so. The Laodicean church was not a deeply spiritual or evangelistically victorious church. It had substantial financial resources which always come from God. Yet, He still saw the church as spiritually destitute.

We misinterpret our true condition.

My natural tendency when reading these verses is to think that we need to be careful not to become a church like that. That is wrong thinking. There is a very real sense in which we ALL are already like that.

Wretched, poor, miserable, blind, and naked is who we are. We are wretched apart from the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit. We are always poor, in need of His riches. We are blind. We cannot see what He does and we must walk according to His instructions, not our own sight. We are always naked. He must clothe us.

The problem with the Laodicean church was not that they were wretched, poor, blind, and naked, but that they did not see themselves as such and come to Christ for dress.  They were sinfully self-dependent. The only way for us to avoid the disaster of Laodicea is to see ourselves as the Laodicean church.

Nothing in my hands I bring,

Simply to Thy cross I cling;

Naked, come to Thee for dress,

Helpless, look to Thee for grace:

Foul, I to the fountain fly,

Wash me, Savior, or I die.

This is not just the thinking I must have regarding salvation.  This is how I must view myself every day of my believing existence.