God spoke through the prophet Amos saying, “Woe to them that are at ease in Zion” (Amos 6:1). The prophet is warning the Israel that their ease and laziness, their comfort and complacency, would bring them much sorrow. Christ taught us the same thing when he warned, “Woe to you who are full, for you shall hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep” (Luke 6:25).
God has blessed us in so many ways and with so much in our society. Most men have become accustomed to these “beds of ease” and have forsaken their Creator. Would it be a surprise if we were to learn that the Lord was moved to sorrow that he had made man on the earth, and that it grieved him at his heart, as was the case in the days of Noah (Genesis 6:6)?
We may look at society around us, and the sinful heathen of our day, and not find this too far-fetched an idea. But it is far too common to see the same ease in the church today. You and I are all too often guilty and hypocritical when it comes to being ungrateful for all that God has done for us. We cry out to the lost to do something about their souls salvation and forget to be busy ourselves in the kingdom doing the Lord’s will.
It is time to wake up brethren, “for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed” (Romans 13:11). It is time to wake up “and arise from the dead” so that we might be able to see and receive the light of Christ (Ephesians 5:14).
If we are at ease in Zion it is not because there is nothing to do! I remember my father telling me when I was growing up that there was always something that could be done. When one job was completed there was always something else to do. This admonition came as a result of finishing one job and sitting around waiting to be told what to do next. What was the acceptable alternative? LOOK! Too many Christians are sitting around today waiting to be told by the preacher or elders what to do next. Jesus said, “Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields” (John 4:35). Why? Because the harvest is plenteous (great) but there are too few who are willing to work (Matthew 9:37; Luke 10:2).
If we are at ease in Zion it is not because there is plenty of time! The young don’t seem to understand and the adult soon forgets that we should not “boast of tomorrow” for we “do not know what a day may bring forth” (Proverbs 27:1). Paul warned the brethren that time is short (1 Corinthians 7:29), and James warns, “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit’; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (James 4:13-14). Our time here on earth is meant to be spent in service to the King of kings (Ecclesiastes 12:13: Revelation 17:14) and David said “the king’s business required haste” (1 Samuel 21:8).
If we are at ease in Zion it is not because the pay is small! Heaven will surely be worth it all! A mansion, a crown, the glory of the Lord, eternal life, what more could we ask for? God loved you so much that he gave His only begotten Son to die for your sins and asked only that you believe and obey him (Hebrews 5:8-9). Yet so many are at ease in Zion. How very sad indeed!
Will you not look up and see the work that is going undone? Will you not wake up and become wise; realize how short time is? Do you not realize how great is your reward in heaven, or how horrible the punishment is in hell? Will you not obey him and serve him today? Be faithful!