What NOT to do

Today: Amos 6-9

There's a show on TLC (The Learning Channel) called "What Not To Wear." The show selects someone who needs serious fashion help. Typically, they show embarrassing footage. They critique their subjects' wardrobe choices--pointing out what NOT to wear (naturally, of course).

Today's passage reminded me of that show...but with some substance. God gave the prophet Amos some words about what NOT to do. I thought His words were as poignant then as they are today. Take a look:

Woe to those who live only for today,

indifferent to the fate of others!

Woe to the playboys,

the playgirls,

who think life is a party held just for them!

Woe to those addicted to feeling good—life without pain!

those obsessed with looking good—life without wrinkles!

They could not care less

about their country going to ruin.

Ouch!

It's amazing how much we can choose to focus on things that make us feel good, things that are temporary or superficial. It's not wrong to have fun--but when self-centered or temporary things supersede the eternal things that REALLY matter, there's a problem. We can learn from others' mistakes and from this excerpt--what NOT to do can help us focus on the things that really matter--which aren't things at all.

Tomorrow: Obadiah-Jonah

Things, people and God

Today: Amos 1-5

"There's a person behind the hand on the other side of your coffee cup. A person! Do you see them?"

This past weekend, I heard these words from Pastor Paul Scanlon. He was talking about the importance of truly caring for people. (Check out his book "The 15 Revolution" via the link above for more on that.)

When I read today's passage, Pastor Paul's message came to mind. Through the prophet Amos, God describes His disappointment in nations that have disregarded Him. Here's how He described His own people--the people of Israel and their view of people:

People for them are only things—
ways of making money.
They'd sell a poor man for a pair of shoes.

They'd sell their own grandmother!

They grind the penniless into the dirt,

shove the luckless into the ditch.

Everyone and his brother sleeps with the 'sacred whore'—

a sacrilege against my Holy Name.

Stuff they've extorted from the poor is piled up at the shrine of their god,

While they sit around drinking wine they've conned from their victims.
"In contrast, I was always on your side..."

It's interesting in this passage to see how Israel's treatment of people--particularly the vulnerable and less fortunate of society--was a reflection of their treatment toward God. They dismissed God and they totally dismissed the people He created. They were selfish and sacrilegious--giving idols items stolen from people--real people--God's people.

It doesn't seem to make any sense! However, I think this passage illustrates that when our views of God are off track, our views of people and things are warped, too. If we love God, we love the people He made and died for. Money and things can't top human lives created in God's image. When we really love God, we stop allowing idols to drive our actions. We live to love God and people more than ourselves or our things.

Tomorrow: Amos 6-9

When the mighty fall

Today: Ezekiel 25-27

It is always a shocking thing when something or someone you believed to be strong--fails. And fails miserably.

In today's chapters, God talked about various cities and nations that disregarded Him. At the end of the passage, this description of Tyre stood out to me:

"'As you crisscrossed the seas with your products,

you satisfied many peoples.

Your worldwide trade

made earth's kings rich.

And now you're battered to bits by the waves,

sunk to the bottom

of the sea,

And everything you've bought and sold

has sunk to the bottom with you.

Everyone on shore looks on in terror.

The hair of kings stands on end,

their faces drawn and haggard!

The buyers and sellers of the world

throw up their hands:

This horror can't happen!

Oh, this has happened!'"

It's amazing how often we think things are invincible. Whether it's a celebrity, a church leader, a company, a nation--often we put things and people on pedestals they were never meant to stand on. And then we're surprised when they fall.

In this excerpt, Tyre is described as a rich place. And when it sinks, observers are terrified. They think it's horrifying.

Why? It's not like the observers were part of Tyre's demise--they just observed it. Why would it be horrifying to them?

I think part of the answer is because when the things people consider mighty fall, it completely shakes up their thinking and their quicksand-like foundations. The truth? Things and people are not invincible--people make mistakes, things disappear, people die, and things lose value.

That might sound morbid and depressing, but I'm mainly trying to say that you can't put your faith, hope and identity in people or things.

On the other hand, God is invincible, all-powerful, loving and continually faithful. He is mighty. And He never falls. Never.

Tomorrow: Ezekiel 28-30

You can't take it with you

Today: Psalm 46-50

If you look at the magazines at a grocery store check-out, you would get an interesting perspective on our society--and the things that are compelling to people. You'd see beautiful supermodels, athletes, and actors. You'd read headlines about losing weight, looking younger and getting (or saving) more money.

I'm not saying those things are inherently bad...but there's nothing of eternal significance about predicting the next championship team or choosing the perfect spring wardrobe. Here's what today's passage had to say about focusing on material things:

So don't be impressed with those who get rich

and pile up fame and fortune.

They can't take it with them;

fame and fortune all get left behind.

Just when they think they've arrived

and folks praise them because they've made good,

They enter the family burial plot where they'll never see sunshine again.

We aren't immortal.

We don't last long.

This passage is a reminder to focus on the things that really matter...which aren't really things at all.

Tomorrow: Psalm 51-57

Little things that mean a lot

Today: Luke 14-16

Have you ever gone out to a restaurant with somebody--perhaps on a date, with your family or in a group of friends--and been horribly embarrassed by how someone else in your party treated the server?

Likewise, have you ever seen someone in an office treat others (perhaps janitors or administrative assistants) like second-class citizens?

I have.

It's amazing how some people have no problem being rude or obnoxious to people that they consider insignificant...totally oblivious to the important fact that how they treat people reflects upon their character. It's the "little things" that make a big difference.

Sometimes, we can also take the standpoint, "When I'm in charge at the office, I'll do X, Y and Z to make it SO much better..." or "If I only had more money, then I would do..."

In reality, power and money usually magnify the character you have without them. You prove yourself and your integrity during the seasons when you have little.

Jesus said it like this:

If you're honest in small things,

you'll be honest in big things;

If you're a crook in small things,

you'll be a crook in big things.

If you're not honest in small jobs,

who will put you in charge of the store?

No worker can serve two bosses:

He'll either hate the first and love the second

Or adore the first and despise the second.

You can't serve both God and the Bank.

Tomorrow: Luke 17-18