How can we avoid the complacency criticized in Amos 6:12 in our lives today? Setting the Scene: Amos 6:12 “For horses to run on rock or for oxen to plow the sea would be absurd; yet you have turned justice into poison and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood—” (Amos 6:12). The prophet exposes people who thought life was secure while their society slid into spiritual ruin. Signs That Complacency Has Settled In • Trust in comfort more than in God (Amos 6:1) • Injustice shrugged off as “someone else’s problem” (Amos 6:12) • Religious activity divorced from obedience (Isaiah 29:13; Matthew 15:8) • Self-assessment that ignores sin (Revelation 3:17) Why Complacency Endangers the Soul • Proverbs 1:32—“the complacency of fools will destroy them.” • Hebrews 2:1—drifting happens when truth is neglected. • Revelation 3:16—lukewarm faith provokes the Lord to “spit you out of My mouth.” Guarding Our Hearts Each Day • Stay alert in Scripture: schedule daily, unhurried reading (Psalm 119:105). • Invite faithful believers to speak truth into blind spots (Hebrews 10:24-25). • Examine motives before God, confessing sin quickly (Psalm 139:23-24; 1 John 1:9). • Keep gratitude active—thanksgiving fights entitlement (1 Thessalonians 5:18). • Remember future accountability at Christ’s judgment seat (2 Corinthians 5:10). Living Out Justice and Righteousness • Seek the good of the vulnerable: widows, orphans, immigrants (James 1:27). • Conduct business with honesty and generosity (Leviticus 19:35-36; Ephesians 4:28). • Speak for the voiceless in culture and law (Proverbs 31:8-9). • Practice hospitality that bridges social and economic gaps (Romans 12:13). • Give proportionately, cheerfully, and sacrificially (2 Corinthians 9:6-7). Stirring Spiritual Passion • Meditate on the cross—remembering the cost of redemption (1 Peter 1:18-19). • Fast periodically to reset dependence on God (Matthew 6:16-18). • Sing truth-filled worship that exalts Christ, not comfort (Colossians 3:16). • Serve in areas that stretch faith and compassion (Galatians 5:13). Finishing Well, Not Flat • Amos warns that privilege without obedience collapses. • Micah 6:8 calls God’s people “to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” • By pursuing active obedience, accountable fellowship, and sacrificial love, believers avoid the poison of complacency and display the true “fruit of righteousness” God desires. |
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