"I know your poverty." To listen to the preaching in America today you would think it was a sin to be poor. It is no sin to be poor! The Gospel is to the poor. God gives His Kingdom to the poor. It is a good thing because most people in the world are poor by American standards.

We should be industrious and do all we can to make a living. But an abundance of material things can be more of a curse than a blessing because too many possessions rob us of our time with God. If we have enough to eat and clothes to wear we are blessed indeed. However, the Bible says those who would be rich pierce themselves with many sorrows.

But the believers in Smyrna were rich! Rich in faith. Rich in the Presence of God. Rich in the peace of God, in the favor of God. These are true riches. Money, cars, and houses are not the true riches. The approval of God and the love and affection of our family and friends are the true riches.

I am the pastor of a small church (by American standards). But I am rich because I see the Lord working miracles in the adults and the children of our congregation. I wouldn't trade with anyone.

"I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan." (Revelation 2:9—NIV)

The believers in Smyrna were being slandered by other believers. It usually is true in any Christian church that there are those who profess to be Christians but who spend their time criticizing everyone and everything. I have preached and taught much about gossip and criticism and the result seems to be that our assembly is relatively free from these roots of bitterness.

I am at a loss to know why people of this type attach themselves to Christian assemblies, calling themselves Christian and causing the trouble they do. But every pastor understands what I mean.

The Lord Jesus knows all that is being said about you.

The slander is coming from Satan. He is looking for an excuse to put you in "prison."

The Lord tells us not to fear the accusations, not to be afraid of what we are to suffer.

"Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life." (Revelation 2:10—NIV)

The Lord could have prevented the suffering and imprisonment of the Christians in Smyrna. But He did not do so. The Father has given Satan some rights over us in the way of sifting our personality. Christ can prevent your suffering and imprisonment but He may not do so.

You know, Christ could have warned Adam and Eve about the snake, about what to look out for. But He did not do this. Sometimes He allows us to go through very painful circumstances that will do us good in the long run.

To be continued.