One of Aesop’s fables is the story of the dog who saw his image reflected in a pool of water beneath his feet. Though he already had a bone, he was jealous of the bone he saw in the “other” dog’s mouth. He opened his jaws to snarl and snatch at the bone’s reflection—and of course lost his bone when it fell into the water.

How accurately this pictures the “church in Laodicea”! Not satisfied with the promises of God, the church in this wealthy Roman city sought for and acquired earthly power through wealth. But she had in reality become poor, and in the end her wealth would be denied her.