Silver and Gold: The Church of Laodicea
By Stephen Unthank - Posted at Place for Truth:
Published July 16, 2026
Though God is not a communist – “thou shall not steal” – He is concerned with our idolatrous love of money. So attractive is the lure of wealth that, often times, God will describe his people’s love of wealth with the language of adultery! (see Isaiah 1:21-23; Jeremiah 5:1-13; Ezekiel 16; Hosea 2:1-8; 12:7-14; 13:6; Amos 6:1-7; James 2:1-13; James 4:1-10). “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also… No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money” (Matthew 6:21, 24). And the thing with adultery is that it takes the adulterous spouse away from her lover and tarnishes the covenant the two had made.This is the danger the church in Laodicea is in. Throughout Revelation John makes it clear that wealth and prosperity – though sometimes given as a blessing from God – may more be due to an unholy alliance with the world than with Christ. “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast. For all nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living… Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins” (Rev. 18:2-4).
In contrast to Laodicea stood the church in Smyrna, who, though they were materially poor, Christ says that they are in fact spiritually rich (Rev. 2:9)! But Laodicea? “You say, ‘I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing,’ not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked” (Rev. 3:17). That is their problem: a divided heart. Though they are the bride of Christ, they are giving their trust and heart and love to riches and prosperity. The result? “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth” (Rev. 3:15-16). There is nothing healthy nor healing flowing out of their hearts. Their works – the fruit of their faith – is half-hearted. Not boiling-hot not nor ice-cold, but lukewarm. Tepid. Indifferent and apathetic.
