The Problem of Wealth and Religion

Security

I wonder how many insurance policies you currently hold.

I suspect for most of you, you likely have at least home insurance and car insurance of some type. Maybe you have life insurance. I suspect quite number of you will have health insurance. Perhaps Income protection? Funeral insurance. Professional insurance. Liability insurance.

It would seem almost, wherever there is a risk, there is probably some kind of insurance you can get for it.

In fact, did you know that in the celebrity world, it would seem it’s all the rage to insure parts of your body. Julia Roberts, for example has reportedly insured her smile for $30 million. Taylor Swift has insured her legs for $40 million.

You see, the more we get, the more we want to protect what we’ve got. For these celebrities, if they lose certain attributes, their earning potential drops dramatically.

And that uncertainty is hard to hold. Thankfully for them, there is an insurance industry ready to help.

But in this, we can start to see a trap of wealth, and it’s not a good one.

Now just to be sure, I’m not about to suggest that taking out an insurance policy is a bad idea. On the contrary, taking our an appropriate insurance policy, can be a very wise use of your money.

But when we go overboard and purchase unnecessary policies, we start to see our trust being put into our possessions.

But it’s not just insurance. We want to safeguard ourselves against potential disasters by stockpiling our possessions.

We talk about saving for a rainy day - again, something that can be a wise thing to do, but when left unchecked, can be more about hoarding for yourself.

At the end of the day, it comes down to us trying to find our security in worldly things.

And so you’re probably not going to be surprised to hear me say that rather than relying on worldly things, instead we should be putting our trust in God.

That is exactly what I’m going to say - except, here in lies a big trap.

The religion trap.

The religion trap is where you think you’re putting your trust in God, but what you’re actually putting your trust in is the superficial words and actions. It’s the Christian speak we all learn to do. It can be going to church.

And the longer you’ve been a Christian the bigger the trap can be.

For example, in my own case, I’ve grown up in a Christian family, and taught about God from as early as I remember.

As a result, identifying as a Christian was a very natural thing to do.

Learning how the words to say and how to act in front of other believers was just part of the process. And so, because I looked and sounded like a Christian, it’s easy to think - right, well I must be one.

Without deliberate attention, I could have very easily been putting my trust in religion rather than God.

So we’ve got two traps. The possession trap and the religion trap. In some ways quite different but both are similar.

The possession trap fools you into thinking what you have is going to give you security. The religion trap fools you into thinking the superficial words and actions will give you security.

And so the big question I want to explore today is: how can we avoid these traps?

Well my plan this morning is to explore this question as we look through the third chapter of Amos.

Context

You see, as we look at the context in which Amos is ministering, what we see is that they had fallen down the two traps I just spoke about.

Now if you were listening last week, then I gave a bit of the background to this time.

We’re in about the mid 700’s BC. A few hundred years have passed since the glory days of David sitting on the throne, but while things went bad for quite a while there, things have begun to rebound. They’ve regained territories that had previously been lost to surrounding nations. And their economy was going very well.

Their trap

And so here lies the first trap - the possession trap.

You see, given their relative wealth, and became quite easy to think that they can provide for themselves.

As we’ll soon see, the built big houses and took pride in it.

But then we can also see them fall into the religion trap.

You see, their religious traditions have now been well and truly set for a long time now.

They had their sabbath days. The special feasts - one of which we recognised only recently being Pentecost (although they would have probably called it the feast of weeks).

They took part in sacrifices and and had various other religious observances.

And not only that, they would have had it drilled into them that they were God’s chosen people. God had made a number of promises to them, and so they could just cling to those.

Unfortunately, these two traps have closed in on these people.

They thought they were very secure. But God had other ideas.

Being called out

Let’s look at the passage.

The chapter starts with the words: “Hear this word, people of Israel”.

These opening words would have fed right into the religiousity.

They are God’s chosen people.

But then the message takes a turn - “the word the Lord has spoken against you”.

But how could God be turning against them when everything is going so well?

Again in verse 2, God’s message starts in such a way that reminds them of what their privileged state should be.

“You only have I chosen of all the families of the earth”.

This is part of their identity.

But then once again, God spins it around: “therefore I will punish you for all your sins”.

I suspect it would have been a surprise to them, but it really shouldn’t have.

Seven questions

Just look at the series of questions asked between verses 3 to 6.

We get seven questions, and the answer to each of them would have been obvious to the original receivers of this word.

“Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?” No

“Does a lion roar in the thicket when it has no prey?” No.

The lion doesn’t growl when it’s caught nothing.

The bird doesn’t swoop for no reason.

The trap springs if it’s caught something.

The trumpet sounds in the city when there is trouble brewing.

And if disaster comes, it’s because of the Lord.

Now these questions serve two purposes.

Cause and Effect

The first purpose is that it creates a powerful rhetorical device to show that an action will result in an effect. It’s the basic cause and effect principle.

If I drink and drive, I’m more likely to have an accident.

If I break the law I go to prison.

In the context of this passage, it’s saying, don’t think that what’s about to happen is just some unlucky and unexpected occurrence.

The punishment that they receive is a direct result of their actions. In the same way that the lion roars because it has something to roar about, so too God will roar.

Towards disaster

But there is actually another purpose these questions serve. And that becomes clear as you look at the progression of the questions.

The initial cause and effect is quite benign. Two people want to walk together, and after a quick agreement they do so.

But then the cause and effect in the next verse (that is, verse 4) becomes a little more dangerous. A lion looking out for prey.

Moving from the lion and prey, we go to a bird being caught in a trap.

In verse 6, the danger becomes more relatable. It’s no longer just the danger to the lion’s prey or the bird, but danger to the people in the city.

And finally it is disaster in the city.

There is a sense in which, though it is just pointing out the basic principle of cause and effect, by the examples chosen, its suggesting that the danger is getting closer to home.

The Lion Roars

And that danger certainly does seem close when in verse 8 we read: “The lion roared - who will not fear?

Bringing us back to verse 2 of chapter 1 when it says the Lord Roars.

Something has happened - and that cause is about to have a real effect being felt.

These people who felt so comfortable in their wealth, prosperity and religiousity, are hearing the lion roar - who can but fear?

The coming judgement

Well, the judgement is about to be pronounced starting in verse 9.

Now as I explore this pronouncement, we’ll see two main sections. The first being verses 9 to 12, and the second starting at verse 13 to the end of the chapter.

What I want to draw out from these two sections is that essentially God is tearing down the two areas of our lives that we think provide security.

That is, our wealth and our religion.

So let’s look at them.

Tearing down the fortress

Now as you read verse 9, the implication of the first two lines might not be immediately obvious, but in actual fact it would have served to try and embarrass the Israelites.

You see, essentially God is calling upon the rich people in two important foreign cities to come and be witnesses against what the rich in Israel is doing.

When it talks of fortresses, it effectively is talking about those who can afford large and luxurious houses.

And so God calls forward the rich and wealthy from Ashdod and Egypt and says take a look at whats happening within Samaria (which is the capital city of the northern kingdom of Israel).

…Look at the way they oppress their own people.

Now, I don’t think for a moment we should presume that Ashdod and Egypt are exactly innocent in this way - but I think it’s got to be a bit embarrassing if even these foreign nations can see that what is happening is not quite right.

They can see that Israels own fortresses are full of things plundered and looted. In other words, gained by unethical means.

And so, with even the foreign nations seeing their injustice God declares that Israels strongholds will be pulled down, and their fortresses plundered.

Now just to be clear - this is one of the things that Israel was putting so much store in to.

They were doing well. What could possibly go wrong.

They had more then they’ve had in a long time. They are successful.

God’s saying - no, these things which you are putting so much store in are nothing. They will not help you.

Tearing down the Altars

As I mentioned, there are two aspects to this. We’ve just seen a pronouncement on the destruction of wealth and possessions.

In verse 13, we move into their other area which gave them security. Their religious observations.

Firmly in God’s sight is the altars of Bethel.

Now Bethel is where the northern tribe had established their temple.

We are of course more familiar with the great temple of Jerusalem, but remember since the big split after the reign of King Solomon, there was a need for another temple.

Now the reference to the horns of the altar might feel a bit obscure for us. But if you were to go back and look at Exodus 21, you’ll see that for accidental matters, for example, accidentally killing someone, you could cling to the horns of the altar and this would provide you protection.

I know it sounds a little different, but I’ll leave a full discussion for another time, but the point is, this reference here to the horns of the altar being cut off is suggesting that they should not think they can rely any more on their fancy words - this is not their security.

Verse 15, actually takes us somewhat back to the earlier point of tearing down their supposed security in their wealth.

Their winter and summer houses are gone. The houses that are adorned with fancy things are gone. Their mansions will be destroyed.

This chapter would have been very disempowering for the people of Israel.

They had felt so secure. But the things they had put their security in don’t help them.

Avoiding the traps

Well, I said the thing I want to focus on this morning is actually how we can avoid falling down similar traps. Because let’s face it, we are in a position where it is very easy to fall down them. We’re in a very prosperous society and if you’re listening or here this morning, you probably have at least some interest in religion.

Well, despite wealth and religion being in the firing line here, no where does it suggest that wealth and religion should be avoided.

Having money is not the issue.

In fact, we see throughout the bible quite a number of very wealthy people who are considered very godly. Abraham and Job come immediately to mind.

The issue is in the abuse of these things.

As we gain wealth we begin to think we’re superior. And if we’re superior, it’s easy to look down on those who we think of as inferior.

So on one level, we could just say - avoid the feeling of superiority, and you’ll be right. The problem is, that’s easier said then done.

Well, I’m going to suggest two things to help us, the second of which will flows from the first.

Understanding what God has done

So the first thing actually comes to us in the very first verse.

If you go back to the first verse, you’ll see that God does something that he often does - reminds them of his past actions.

You see, tucked away in his judgement is actually a reminder that he brought this people up out of Egypt.

Now for those of you unfamiliar with this reference, this refers to when Israel was still only a new nation but one that found themselves as slaves in Egypt. God powerfully took them out, but the main thing to note is that this was not because they had earned the right.

It was all about God’s grace.

For those of you listening who have had the life changing experience of Jesus coming into your life - this privilege is not because you were somehow better then those who haven’t. It’s because in God’s grace he chose you.

Now when we understand this, it changes everything.

And we need to allow this to colour the way we think about our wealth and even our religious observations. We need to say - thank you God for what you have given me. I do not deserve it. I am just so thankful for your goodness to me.

In fact, I believe we can say this whether you have a million dollars in the bank, or whether you’re lucky if your bank balance has three figures.

You see, the size of your bank account is not a reflection of how good you are. But what you have you can use.

So the first step is, understand that whatever you have is a gift from God.

Serving others

The next step naturally flows from this.

If you understand that what you have is not because you deserved it but because God has blessed you, well, we need to then have the same attitude towards others.

We need to have an attitude of service.

If you want to know what this looks like, then can I direct you to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

He is the perfect example of a servant, despite being the one who really has the least need to be a servant.

But it is as we serve others that we can best avoid this feeling of superiority.

When we serve others, we need to get over the attitude that says: I worked hard and that person didn’t. And rather take the attitude that says: God blessed me, so I will bless that person.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, this is actually what it means to trust in God.

I said at the start that rather then trusting in wealth or religious practices, we should trust in God.

But trusting in God is more than just saying nice things to God.

If we actually trust in God it will show in our actions. Actions that show love to others, regardless of their situation.

Now just to be clear - we don’t do this to earn God’s love. You see, that’s the whole point. God’s loved us already. We love others, because God first loved us.

The Israelites fell down these two traps during the time of Amos. They are traps that unfortunately have caught people off guard at many times throughout history.

But they don’t have to.

And my challenge to you this morning is that if you can gain an understanding of what God has done for you and how you didn’t deserve it. And if you can take a posture of a servant. Then you will be in a much better position to avoid falling into the abuses that Amos observed.

So let me pray…