“Woe to you who are at ease in Zion, and trust in Mount Samaria, notable persons in the chief nation, to whom the house of Israel comes!” ~ Amos 6:1
REFERENCE:
This chapter begins with words that sound strange to our pleasure-seeking and vain generation: “Woe to those who are at ease.” That is not how we see things; we would rather say, “Blessed or happy are those who are at ease, who never experience the bite of economic hardship, are never worried about tomorrow’s needs, and live very ‘soft’ lives.” We consider they are doing well and envy them, but God says, “Woe to those at ease in Zion.”
Pleasure is often an enemy of spiritual sensitivity, and a soft life easily lulls men into spiritual slumber, insensitive to and unaware of lurking spiritual dangers. The princes of Judah and Israel found themselves in this position. They felt secure believing that they were God’s chosen people, had God’s Temple amongst them, and His oracles given to them. So they became proud and careless and lived securely and sensually, unmoved by God’s coming judgment. They were sure their wealth would protect them, and the Temple would be their security. They were wrong!
Later in the chapter, God said, “I abhor the pride of Jacob and hate his palaces…I will deliver up the city and all that is in it.” The attitude of Israel to God’s warnings and prophecies provoked God to fulfill the threatened judgment. Do not be so carried away by the pleasures of this world that you forget your commitment to God. Let none of this world’s accolades, honors, favors, riches, or thrones draw your heart away from your devotion to God; it is not wise. Before, wealth, education, positions, or titles were God and your walk with Him. Protect them.
Let us not be deceived by thinking that a good life means the favor of God. There are those with wealth but are under God’s displeasure. The measure of a man is not in the extent of his wealth or status in life; it is in his reverence for and obedience to God; these two should not be allowed to be lost to the comforts of this world. God wants you to prosper, but He does not wish prosperity to ruin you, for “The prosperity of fools destroys them.” Proverbs 1:32.
What is greatly esteemed before men can be an abomination to God. Do not place your worth in wealth, nor let the world’s comforts make you proud. As you increase in honor, wealth, and greatness, remain humble. It is hard to be great and not proud, assuming to be better than your brethren and not needing God. Are you at ease in Zion, blessed by God? Remember to keep the Lord continually before you. May God give you the balance to be rich, blessed, lifted, promoted, celebrated, and honored, yet to be rich, godly, and anointed. You will not fail God!
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Additional texts:
Psalm 16:1-8 and Proverbs 30:7-9
PRAYER:
Dear Lord, I commit to You today to not let anything take me away from Your love for me and my relationship with You. I second money, fame, sexual desires, job, career, projects, etc., to You. None of these will take me away from You. I refuse for ease and comfort to stop me from serving and following You. I will serve and follow you in lack and plenty, in want and surplus, when at the bottom or the top, etc. O Lord, I offer You all that I am
