June 18, 2001

Lessons for July 1

EXPLORE THE BIBLE: S
ecurity comes in a right relationship with God
___ Amos 6:1-14
___By Jeane Law
___First Baptist Church, Lubbock
___What must you have to make you feel secure? Is it money in the bank? A home that is paid for? Good health?
___Our lesson this week explains the source of true security. Few of us have ever lost everything and been left absolutely destitute with nowhere to turn but to the Lord.
___However, many of us have lost loved ones through death and have felt bereft of our source of comfort and support. This experience teaches us that the companionship of the l oved one is a far greater loss than the loss of material possessions. But in both instances, we look to God for security, for we have the promise of the words in Philippians 4:19: "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." This is often done through the generosity of community citizens and neighbors and through the loving compassion of Christian friends. Slowly but surely, the needs are met when we trust in the Lord.
___We begin Amos 6 by looking at a group of people who felt God had nothing to do with their success and comfort and were secure in their "good life." These were the leaders of the nations of Judah and Israel. They resided in big houses, lavishly furnished, on the hillsides of Samaria and Jerusalem. Jerusalem was Zion, the home of the great temple in the Southern Kingdom, and Samaria was the ruling city of Israel, the Northern Kingdom.
___These people felt they were secure in many ways. They had great wealth and creature comforts far beyond their needs. They focused on rich foods and much wine, expensive ointments for the body and plush surroundings. They indulged in satisfying the desires of the flesh day after day.
___They were supposed to be the businessmen--protecting their nation by making decisions for Israel's and Judah's good, but they were negligent and irresponsible as they basked in the delight of their over-indulgent lifestyles.
___Our nation today also has the very wealthy and the very poor. Our government has declared a family of four to be living in poverty when their income does not exceed $17,184. This is about $1,432 a month to cover the cost of staying sheltered and alive. Thirty-two million Americans live in poverty today. We also have people who spend that much money on one outfit of clothes, or the entire annual income on an automobile or vacation trip. Security means different things to these two groups of people.
___Our church is participating in an interfaith ministry to homeless, and it has been a very enlightening, rewarding experience as we hear their stories and come to understand circumstances that cause their homelessness. If we love justice and mercy, then we must find ways to make a difference.
___Chapter 6:1 continues with the lament begun in Chapter 5, when Amos says, "Woe to you who are complacent in Zion, and to you who feel secure on Mount Samaria." "Woe" means great sorrow, grief and trouble.
___He tells them to look at the great cities that have existed in the past, but now no longer exist. They are foolish to think Zion and Samaria are any more secure than those cities had been. But they do think that! These leaders acted with a presumption that they were God's special people and their nation was protected because of their relationship with God. They thought, "God wouldn't think of destroying this land, with the temple and all the holy places in it. Our history is here. He wouldn't let anything happen to this place. We have wealth and position. We are privileged. We've got it made." (That is obviously my paraphrasing! )
___Verses 3-6 describe their lifestyle, and then verse 6 concludes with the words, "... but you do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph."
___Some feel that in calling the afflicted church "Joseph," Amos is alluding to the story in Genesis 40:21, 23 when Joseph, while in prison, correctly interpreted the dream of Pharaoh's cupbearer and asked him to remember him. The cupbearer was restored as Joseph predicted, but once he was out of prison he forgot about Joseph. These complacent leaders had no concern for their church and nation either.
___And then in verse 7, the big "therefore" is spoken. "You will be among the first to go into exile; your feasting and lounging will end." Today we might quip: "Turn out the lights. The party's over!"
___The chapter continues with God's plans for destruction because "you have turned justice into poison and the fruit of righteousness into bitterness" (v. 12). In all of this their hearts are hardened toward the Lord, and they grow afraid to speak his name. They still haven't understood that God wants them to seek him and to cry out to him. They had placed their security in all the wrong places.
___Success often develops a false sense of security. We always must be alert to that tendency in ourselves. Our only real security is found in a right relationship with God. Oh how we need to believe that and to act upon it.

Get printer-friendly version of this story


Send this story to a friend

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.

---

Contents/ Masthead / Why We're Here / Links / Archive / E-mail us/ SUBSCRIBE!