Blind by the Best of Times

Despite the difficulties of the economic downturn, the United States of America is still the wealthiest country in the history of the world. In the midst of every trip I’ve taken internationally I have come to realize the great blessing of living in our great land. We are spoiled with simple luxuries like indoor plumbing. We are spoiled with not so simple luxuries like electricity, cable TV, and air-conditioning. God has truly blessed our land that is free to choose him and free to worship the one true God. Could it be that our blessed land, with all its wealth, has caused us to be blind to the lostness that exists around us? Have we gotten so comfortable with our surroundings that we fail to see the horrific tragedy of those around us dying without having their sins forgiven through Jesus Christ?

The nation of Israel was experiencing its best days since Solomon just before they were taken into captivity by the Assyrians. The prophet Amos gave them this warning, “Woe to those who lie on beds of ivory and stretch themselves out on their couches, and eat lambs from the flock and calves from the midst of the stall, who sing idle songs to the sounds of the harp and like David invent for themselves instruments of music, who drink wine in bowls and anoint themselves with the finest oils, but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph!” (Amos 6:4-6, ESV). I believe that the message God wants to warn us with today is that in the midst of wealth we do not fail to grieve “over the ruin of the lost.” Do not let the luxury of living in the greatest Kingdom in the history of the world keep you from grieving the sins that separate this world from God.