Listen

Hear this, you who trample on the needy and destroy the poor of the land, saying, “When will the new moon be over so that we may sell grain, and the Sabbath so that we may offer wheat for sale, make the ephah smaller, enlarge the shekel, and deceive with false balances, in order to buy the needy for silver and the helpless for sandals, and sell garbage as grain?”

The Lord has sworn by the pride of Jacob: Surely I will never forget what they have done.

Amos 8:4-7

Think

The prophet Amos does not hold back in exposing the hypocrisy of his greedy, yet “religious,” contemporaries. They couldn’t wait for their equivalent of church to be over so they can make even more of a profit – and deceitfully at that! God is not impressed by their religious observances, but pays more attention to the way they take advantage of the vulnerable for their own financial gain; even using the needy to get a new pair of shoes! God will not forget their actions. It is obvious that greed has become their god.

We, too, need to realize that God is not interested in our spiritual devotion if our undercurrent is greed and our faith does not lead us to treat others fairly.

Jon Brown

Pray

God, fashion my faith in ways that lead to justice, not just lip service.

Amen.

Go

There are two bodies of water in Israel, both are fed by the Jordan River.

One is the Sea of Galilee: full of life and surrounded by lush foliage. For every drop of water that enters the sea it passes it on at the other side back into the river. It gives, and it lives.

The other body of water is also fed by the same Jordan River, but nothing flows out of it. This sea has no fish, no seaweed, no plant life. We call it the Dead Sea.

Open your heart to opportunities to bring life to others and yourself by means of the gifts God has given you.