Lovers of Pleasure

December 7, 2010

"Woe to them that are at ease in Zion…” Amos 6:1

Zion (or Jerusalem) was the capital of Judah, the southern kingdom, and Samaria was the capital of the northern kingdom, Israel. Despite the ungodliness rampant in both nations, as well as suffering due to drought and other judgments sent by God, the leaders of Zion and Samaria were still living in decadent luxury, and most of the people were following their example. The prophet Amos was thus called by God to pronounce coming judgment on both nations and especially on their leaders.

God’s nature and God’s principles do not change. If God was angry with those of His ancient people who were living in affluent ease while indifferent to the sin in the nation and in their own lives, must this not be true also in modern "Christian" America? Have evangelical Christians today become "lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God"?  We should at least raise the question when our churches become lifeless and our cathedrals grow cold and our homes become show places, when our music stirs the feelings but not the soul, when we spend more time in "rest and recreation" than with the Lord and His Word, and when we begin to allow "the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches to choke the Word" so that we become "unfruitful".

God was longsuffering in Noah’s evil day and with Israel, but judgment finally came to them and it was brutal. Perhaps He has been calling to us in the earthquake and the hurricane, the drought and the flood, the financial meltdowns, the famine and the pestilence, telling us that judgment is coming. Are we at ease in Zion, saying, "Soul, . . . take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry"? If so, may God stir us as Christians to repentance and rededication that He might hold His judgments back!

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