“Seek good, not evil, that you may live.
Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you,
just as you say He is.”
Amos 5:14
Being God’s chosen people is a privileged position to hold. But it comes with certain risks, namely complacency. Israel was enjoying a season of prosperity when Amos came preaching his message of doom. The people had fancy clothes, fine houses (sometimes two of them), plenty to eat and drink-no one wanted to listen to tales of destruction. They felt quite secure in what they presumed was God’s blessing.
Their prosperity, however, was a facade. They had bought it at the price of injustice. They oppressed the poor and cheated in the courts. Worst of all, they kept up their religious appearances, making the prescribed offerings and celebrating the designated feasts, thinking that doing so would keep God placated. They thought if they performed the right rituals, they could live however they wanted. But they were dead wrong.
Amos preaches a point-blank message: God cannot be manipulated. And God’s message then is the same message for us today. God isn’t looking for the right rituals; He is looking for a relationship with us, and doing what is right in His sight. Right living begins with justice and fairness for those who are most vulnerable.
I don’t know what influenced the people of Israel to become complacent or what caused their hearts to go astray, however in our times I feel the greatest influences are business, pleasures, and selfishness. I must confess these are the areas in my life I struggle with.
It’s hard to juggle today’s life style, we must find a balance. We cannot pursue and run ourselves ragged with work, kid’s activities, socializing, pleasures, or even church ministries, and expect to have time or energy left to sit at the feet of Jesus.
While most of us have to work, and the rest of these pleasures/activities I listed are not bad in themselves, if we make the Lord our first priority. If we do not take the time to allow God’s word and Spirit to speak, refresh and renew us, we will find ourselves compromising with our flesh, which in turn will eventually compromise our values.
Let’s learn a lesson from the Israelite’s mistakes, and heed the warnings the Lord recorded for us in His word. Remember He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
