Revelation 2:8-11 And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things said the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;… I. THE POOR ARE RICH; FOR THEY HAVE THE MOST VALUABLE POSSESSIONS AND ENJOYMENTS OF THE RICH, AND WANT ONLY THOSE WHICH ARE OF LESS VALUE. Gaiety and cheerfulness, in infancy and childhood, gladden the offspring of the peasant as well as the offspring of the prince. The sleep of the labouring man is as sweet as his who has acquired or inherited the largest fortune. The mind of the servant may be more contented and serene than that of the master. II. MANY OF THE POOR, YEA, ALL OF THEM WHO HAVE OBTAINED PRECIOUS FAITH, EVEN IN THIS LIFE POSSESS AND ENJOY THE BEST RICHES. 1. They possess a title and claim to all things. To Jesus, the heir of all things, they are united by faith and love. 2. They possess an interest in Him who is the fountain of all blessedness and the possessor of heaven and earth. Be it so that they cannot say this house or these lands are ours, they have ground to say, this God is our God for ever and ever. 3. They have a charter which cannot be revoked; and which secures their possession of all that is good for them (2 Peter 1:4; 1 Timothy 4:8; Psalm 34:10; Psalm 84:11; Psalm 132:15; Isaiah 54:17; Zechariah 9:8; 1 Corinthians 10:14). 4. True Christians, through the operations of the Spirit of Christ and the influence of faith purifying the heart, are enriched with a temper of mind, and with dispositions which are the seeds of true happiness. Religion consecrates the understanding, the will, and the affections, to the best and noblest purposes; and opens the purest sources of transporting delight. 5. True Christians are rich in the well-grounded prospect of a state beyond the grave, where every source of sorrow shall be dried up and every spring of joy opened. III. THE POOR ARE RICH, FOR THEY HAVE THE MEANS OF ACQUIRING AND SECURING THE MOST SUBSTANTIAL AND DURABLE RICHES. They have large, free, and generous offers of all that is needful to make them happy. To the pool the gospel is preached; and thus a price is put into their hands to get wisdom (John Erskine, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; |
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