I subscribe to "God Pause," a daily devotion from Luther Seminary. This week's devotions are being written by one of my seminary roommates, who now serves a congregation in Maryland. Paige is on the money with this one.
Monday, 9/24/2007
Amos 6:1a, 4-7 (NRSV)
1 Alas for those who are at ease in Zion, and for those who feel secure on Mount Samaria; 4 Alas for those who lie on beds of ivory and lounge on their couches and eat lambs from the flock and calves from the stall; 5 who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp, and like David improvise on instruments of music;6 who drink wine from bowls and anoint themselves with the finest oils but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph! 7 Therefore they shall now be the first to go into exile and the revelry of the loungers shall pass away.
Amos offers a bracing prophecy for a Monday. As we begin the work week and get caught up in earning a living, Amos forces us to examine how we use the riches God has placed in our hands.
Alas for those who lie comfortably on custom-made beds, lounge in front of HDTVs and eat takeout several times a week.
Alas for those who drink the priciest wine and anoint themselves with the best the mall has to offer.
Like the Israelites in Amos's time, we anesthetize ourselves with pleasures so we don't have to be grieved over the world's troubles or moved to help the poor. The prophet reminds us that our material comforts will not last. Our revelry will pass away.
As we jump into another week, Amos calls us to orient our hearts to God, who provides all that we need and frees us to share it.
Gracious God, subdue my desire for those things that do not last. In the death and resurrection of Jesus, you have given me the only gift that will not pass away. Open my eyes and free my heart to use whatever you will place in my hands this week to serve others in Jesus' name. Amen.
Paige G. Evers
Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Edgewood, Md.
Master of Divinity , 2001
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment