My lesson from Laodicea

Today I feel stressed, small and inadequate. In the grand scheme of things, there is nothing tragic in my life--it is normal (difficult) stuff that converged today and left me wilted and wanting and in need of God's intervention--in whatever form He brings it. 

I take some encouragement from this however. In the beginning of Revelation, God gives John a series of visions and asks him to write down the words he gives him for letters to 7 churches. In 5 of those 7 letters God has some positive and some negative to say about each church. I church he has nothing critical to say, and in the last church, Laodicea, he has nothing positive to say. What is the biggest issue with Laodicea? They say, "I am rich. I have acquired wealth and don't need a thing". They had become self sufficient. Not the self sufficiency that is robust while still acknowledging that "everything I have I have received" (1 Cor 4:7), but a self sufficiency that said we don't need a thing, we frankly have no need of God, we've got this covered.

I can be the same way when things are going smoothly in certain areas of my life. In fact, I think it is important when things are going well to have a thankful heart and "remember the Lord our God for it is He who gives us the ability to produce wealth" (Duet. 9:18). It is also He who gives us everything else. 

I don't go here quickly. I internally fuss and fume and try to figure my way out of my predicaments. None of this is wrong of course, but turning to God sooner is always better than later.

So today, though I am feeling needy, I am thankful that I have a God who can give me everything that I need, and that I am so much more aware of my need because of my circumstances.