By Bill Fiess
Recent research suggests that a significant number of Americans both want and plan to be wealthy. Americans, on average, feel they need to make over $186,000 per year just to live comfortably. A 2022 survey by Charles Schwab found that Americans’ expectations of what they would need to consider themselves or others “wealthy” are on the rise.i It’s seemingly part of the “American Dream.”
It’s interesting that Jesus Christ makes it plain that He too wants us to become rich, for He says, “I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich [italics added]” (Revelation 3:18a).
But what does this mean, and in what sense is He speaking?
WHAT DID JESUS MEAN?
Certainly, Jesus is not urging believers to be rich in this present world, for He says:
“Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Luke 12:32-34).
He was telling them to use their earthly possessions to gain wealth in the coming kingdom of God.
Jesus talks about riches when He states: “Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?” (Luke 16:11). A few verses later, He derides the Pharisees for being lovers of money (Luke 16:14-15). Thus, Jesus makes a significant contrast between earthly riches and kingdom wealth.
RICHES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
The NT records Jesus Christ’s using the Greek word ploutos (= wealth, riches) nineteen times–and the last time is found in Revelation 3:18. I think it is significant that the authors of the New Testament epistles also use this word to describe the riches of the future kingdom of God and the eternal inheritance that is possible for believers to obtain. For example,
the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints (Ephesians 1:18).
for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:11).
Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? (James 2:5).
This, therefore, appears to be what Jesus Christ is referring to in Revelation 3:18: the riches of His future eternal kingdom. He wants us to pursue that. He wants us to reign with Him. This is consistent with what Jesus says just a few verses later: “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne” (Revelation 3:21).
WHAT IS THE GOLD?
In Revelation 3:18, Jesus tells us to buy from Him “gold refined in the fire.” What is He referring to? We get a clue from 1 Peter 1:7, where gold tested by fire equates to future glory:
that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Furthermore, Jesus—in His prayer to the Father—refers to the requirement necessary to share His eternal glory. He prays:
“And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me” (John 17:22-23).
Jesus prayed that believers might be “perfected” to share His eternal glory. This word perfected (teleioō) does not mean sinless perfection but represents a maturity achieved by a believer’s continuing to the end of his life in fellowship with God (see Revelation 2:26; Hebrews 3:14). This maturity would be accomplished by their abiding in Him [note “I in them”], which would undoubtedly require refining and trials.
Why does Jesus say, “buy from Me gold refined in the fire”? Because it is costly to obtain this heavenly wealth. But I think it is worth the cost.
We also read, “and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together” (Romans 8:17).
The writer of Hebrews also speaks of the perfection needed to reign with Christ:
But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn [ones](= the co-rulers) who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect (Hebrews 12:22–23).
And Jesus Himself, in speaking of rewards,ii said: “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48).
Gold, therefore refers to the perfection required to reign with Jesus Christ. But it comes only through refining.iii
SOME EXAMPLES
Think of Moses and Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration with Jesus Christ (Luke 9:28-31). These men had lived difficult lives and had suffered many trials. But they will rule with Jesus Christ and enjoying the riches of eternal life when He establishes His kingdom.
Think of Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth president of the United States. Lincoln was born into poverty in a log cabin in Kentucky and was raised on the frontier. Self-educated, he became a lawyer, Whig Party leader, Illinois state legislator, and U.S. representative. He served as president of the U.S. from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. He is a prime example of someone who rose from poverty, became the leader of an earthly nation, and experienced the glory of that rule.iv
What about you, believer? Do you believe what Jesus is promising in Revelation 3:18? Do you want to be rich forever? Do you want to reign with Jesus Christ forever? Are you willing to allow Him to sanctify you now? The gold He offers includes testing and suffering. But the gold He offers is infinitely better, I think, than the “American Dream.”
____________________
Bill Fiess teaches mathematics at Southwest Virginia Community College.
__________
i Internet AI.
ii Note the context: Matt 5:46-48.
iii See also Zech 13:8-9, where believing Israel, during the Millennium, needs to be refined in the fire to rule with the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
iv https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln.
