Amos Chapter 3

Scripture Reading:  Read Amos Chapter 3. 

“The Good Life”:

Amos 3:9-11 – “Proclaim to the fortresses of Ashdod and to the fortresses of Egypt: “Assemble yourselves on the mountains of Samaria; see the great unrest within her and the oppression among her people.” “They do not know how to do right,” declares the Lord, “who store up in their fortresses what they have plundered and looted.” Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “An enemy will overrun your land, pull down your strongholds and plunder your fortresses.”

It might not be a popular opinion, but I have to say, my personal experience at Disney World didn't quite live up to the hype. Sure, our visit was enjoyable, and the park was undeniably impressive.  But was it truly the 'most magical place on earth '? Perhaps it was the most expensive, but in my experience, Disney World fell short of its promise to make dreams come true. 

Have you ever been disappointed when something you expected to be wonderful wasn’t as good and fulfilling as you thought it would be?  If we’re honest, it happens often when we expect the good things of this world to produce fulfillment that only God can give.    

Israel is in a bad way.  They’re wealthy; their cities are fortified; life in Israel seems like it’s going well, and they’re living “the good life.”  But their success, wealth, and security have come at the expense of oppressing the poor.  Further, they’ve focused so long on pursuing wealth and living apart from God that they’ve lost sight of following the Lord. 

Israel bought into a lie that we often buy into. The good things of this world, good as they can be, are terrible gods to serve and lead to disappointment and even destruction. Israel pursued “the good life” instead of pursuing the things of God. Let us today learn from their mistake.