Ben Zimmer, linguist, lexicographer, and language columnist for The New York Times, recently wrote an article about how incorrect the autocorrect text feature on our smart phones can be. He told how Hannah had received a text message from her father, which read: “Your mother and I are going to divorce next month.” No sooner than Hannah received this seismic disturbance, her father quickly texted her back: “I wrote Disney, but this phone changed it. We are going to Disney.”
I chuckled to myself, and thought, This is what often happens to us when we attempt to autocorrect our lives: We fail with comic and sometimes tragic results.
That’s what happened to the church at Laodicea. The Laodiceans were wealthy, and it led to “autocorrection,” self-sufficiency and complacency (Revelation 3:17). They were so rich that when a devastating earthquake leveled their city, they rebuilt it without any help from Rome. Because this church had no perceived need for help from the Romans, it had no perceived need for help from God. Jesus evaluated this church, and He said although they had the best banking and commerce industry, they were poor; and though they were famed for their glossy black wool, they were naked; and though they were known for their eye salve and medical centers, they were blind.
By trying to autocorrect, Laodicea ended up ambushing itself—succumbing to its own pride, materialism, affluence, and self-satisfaction. The sad part was, they didn’t realize it.
Instead of trying to autocorrect our lives, we must let Jesus correct our lives (Revelation 3:20). He invites us to repent, fellowship with Him, and find our sufficiency in Him. He invites us to switch our broker from materialism to Him, to be clothed in His righteousness, and receive His spiritual healing.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Acts 19:21-41
More:
Read Luke 18:9-14, and identify the similarities and differences between the two men in the story and the Laodiceans.
Next:
How have you tried to autocorrect your life recently? What are some areas in your life where you need to submit to Jesus’ correction?
wman123 on November 6, 2011 at 9:32 am
Nice post and a great reminder how we in the US have become current day Laodiceans.
Praying that we will let Jesus correct our lives.
marvin williams on November 9, 2011 at 6:04 am
Thanks, wman123. Though I don’t want to be like them, I think i am am more like the Laodiceans than I care to admit. I desire to take my life off autocorrect today and let Jesus correct the self-sufficiency in me.
daisymarygoldr on November 6, 2011 at 8:18 pm
That is my heart’s prayer too, wman123. Mother Theresa once said, “The spiritual poverty of the Western world is much greater than the physical poverty of our people. You in the West have millions of people who suffer such terrible loneliness and emptiness.”
Materialism however, is no longer a malady of the West. With globalization, this disease is reaching pandemic proportions. With material prosperity and liberty comes apathy i.e. lukewarm Christianity.
Warren Smith writes in The Charlotte World: “Examples of the Christian-Industrial Complex are easy to see. The Women of Faith conferences, for example, rake in more than $50-million per year and are part of a for-profit, publicly traded company. The Christian retail industry topped $4.5-billion last year…”
Churches are no longer houses of prayer but massive corporations paying huge utility bills. They are more like casino resorts meant to entertain an affluent society that lives to eat, drink and make merry. Basketball courts, coffee shops, music that is pop rock to hip-hop, live Christian band, game room for the youth… the list goes on. Is it any wonder Jesus feels so disgusted that He wants to spit us out of His mouth?
What is one supposed to do with a Christianity that has become a booming business? Autocorrect is easy and pain free. But submitting to Jesus’ correction will be costly. Jesus counseled the Church at Laodicea to “buy” from Him gold, garments and eye salve. Buying requires the paying of a price.
In other words, there is a price we must pay to switch our broker from materialism to Him. The rich young ruler was not willing to pay the price and went away sad, for he had many possessions. Those who have ears to hear will listen and understand what the Spirit is speaking to the churches. Thanks Marvin Williams for the good word picture and timely message!
marvin williams on November 9, 2011 at 6:07 am
Great comment and reminders for all of us. Thanks for adding your voice here and expanding on this concept of autocorrect. Let it be our heart’s desire to find our complete sufficiency in Jesus Christ.
mike wittmer on November 8, 2011 at 11:01 am
Thanks, Marvin, for pointing out the problem with self-correcting. I think our great temptation is to think that “we got this one,” because left to ourselves, we never really do.
marvin williams on November 9, 2011 at 6:14 am
Thanks, Mike. I think it is so easy for us to be Laodiceans because our culture trains us in the art of self-sufficiency and self-correction. We must resist this temptation and find our complete sufficiency in Jesus. Thanks for all you do to keep us on course.
GChoo on November 9, 2011 at 6:30 am
Marvin, thanks for the post. It is a great reminder.
Yes, i do fall into the trap of self-sufficiency and self-correction in the past. I now try to make it a habit to stay close to God’s Word regularly. May God continues to help me rely on His teaching to find complete sufficiency in Him. My prayer to all who seeks after Him.