“You say, ‘I am rich; I have grown wealthy and need nothing.’ But you do not realise that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.”

Revelation 3:17

We don’t always have a correct view of ourselves. Mostly it tends to be rosy, except when we are down and feel self-pity about our situation. Then we feel we need and deserve help and support. It is important that we listen to what God says about us… 

When we are self-confident we are full of the positivity of life and think we can do anything and that have all we need. We may have all we need for the moment, but it can change so quickly. God can take away our wealth, whether riches in terms of money, or our ability to do things and He can make us very poor indeed. Our self-respect can go and we can be humiliated by the circumstances of this world and made very low indeed. Our own view of ourselves, suddenly becomes irrelevant. We realise there is something else in play here. 

God sees me in real terms, in His terms, I am wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I don’t like to think of myself in these terms as it brings down my self-confidence and courage to face the difficulties in my life. I don’t like to be made to feel weak, as I have no strength to face each day and be an overcomer. 

This is the very point God is making. We cannot face anything on our own terms, we need Him at all times and in all ways. Of ourselves, we are nothing, but in Christ we have the riches of God. Only in Christ do we have the riches of God. 

God’s description of us needs meditation and analysis to apply it to ourselves and see how poor we really are towards God. Before He even saves us, we are dead in our sins! We have no life, no ability to change and no hope without the Lord. It is He who has done everything for us – raised us to a new life in Christ and gives us the strength each day to life our lives for Him. Without Him we are wretched, pitifully, poor, blind and naked.

If I believe what God says and humble myself before Him, He will renew me and give the strength to face the troubles of life and be a strong and resilient person. Without Him I am nothing and have no power at all. With Him, all power is given. I will be rich, from the view point of God, and not from my corrupt human heart and mind point of view. I will then have a correct view of myself. 

I am dead in sin before Jesus the Saviour comes to resurrect my soul. I have no power without Him to fight anything, and I am totally dependant on His mercy and grace. I must trust in Him at all times and build my faith, to love and serve Him better and be His humble and obedient servant. 

I will not be wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked any longer, but will be filled with His power, and be clothed in the righteousness of Christ. I will see the Word of God clearly, and grow in grace and knowledge of God and therefore myself. I will see myself truly and not through the rose-tinted spectacle of this fallen world view. 

We each decide what we want. We ask the Lord for wisdom to chose His way and not our way. He will lead us in all truth, for He is not willing that any should  perish.