The Seven Sins of Suburbia Part 4

(Amos 6:1 – 7 NIV) Woe to you who are complacent in Zion, and to you who feel

secure on Mount Samaria, you notable men of the foremost nation, to whom the

people of Israel come! Go to Kalneh and look at it; go from there to great Hamath,

and then go down to Gath in Philistia. Are they better off than your two kingdoms?

Is their land larger than yours? You put off the day of disaster and bring near a reign

of terror. You lie on beds adorned with ivory and lounge on your couches. You dine

on choice lambs and fattened calves. You strum away on your harps like David and

improvise on musical instruments. You drink wine by the bowlful and use the finest

lotions, but you do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph. Therefore you will be among

the first to go into exile; your feasting and lounging will end.

The Dangers of Complacency

1. Complacency leads us to trust in and depend on circumstances,

people, our positions, and things instead of trusting in and

depending on God.

(Amos 6:1) Woe to those who are at ease in Zion and to those who feel secure on

the hill of Samaria – the notable people in this first of the nations, those the house

of Israel comes to.

2. Complacency leads us to arrogance.

(Amos 6:2 – 3) Cross over to Calneh and see; go from there to great Hamath; then

go down to Gath of the Philistines. Are you better than these kingdoms? Is their

territory larger than yours? You dismiss any thought of the evil day and bring in a

reign of violence.

3. Complacency leads us to indifference and inaction.

(Amos 6:4 – 6) They lie on beds inlaid with ivory, sprawled out on their couches, and

dine on lambs from the flock and calves from the stall. They improvise songs to the

sound of the harp and invent their own musical instruments like David. They drink

wine by the bowlful and anoint themselves with the finest oils and do not grieve

over the ruin of Joseph.

4. Complacency leads to downfall.

(Amos 6:7) Therefore, they will now go into exile as the first of the captives, and the

feasting of those who sprawl out will come to an end.

The Cure for Complacency

1. Place your trust and hope in Jesus Christ.

(Psalm 20:7 NIV) Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the

name of the LORD our God.

(1 Peter 1:3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of His

great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection

of Jesus Christ from the dead

2. Have the correct view of yourself.

(Romans 12:3) For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think

of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has

distributed a measure of faith to each one.

3. Do something different that makes a difference.

(Proverbs 31:8 – 9) Speak up for those who have no voice, for the justice of all who

are dispossessed. Speak up, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the

oppressed and needy.

4. Above all, repent.

(2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV) If my people, who are called by my name, will humble

themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will

hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.