Amos 5:18-24, Matthew 25:1-13

Thank God that our God inspired Bibles contain great hope for us believers. However, we do equally need to realise and heed the warnings contained in those Bibles too. Take today’s set readings as prime examples as in both Amos 5:18–24 and Matthew 25:1–13, we see what can happen when people automatically expect salvation just for proclaiming themselves as true believers. In Amos, on the day of the Lord he talks about, the promised day when the Lord comes, we read that the people automatically expect it to be a day of pure light and brightness. In Matthew, we read the parable of the wise and foolish bridesmaids at the wedding banquet, representing the moment when Christ returns to claim his beloved people as his bride. But, in both cases, there is a startling reversal of expectations.

Amos, prophesies that the people who just sit and wait for light will experience only darkness, while in Matthew Jesus’ parable tells us that some will be excluded from the wedding feast because they’re not prepared. In both cases, we get the warning that alongside expected grace becomes judgment.  Yes, judgement. It’s there in the Scriptures, we don’t talk about it too often, but it’s part of the eternal life journey and we ignore it at our peril. Let’s go deeper into the Amos passage. Amos was prophesying his God given warnings to Israel, around 760 – 750 BC, but of course the message is to all God’s people throughout time.

Amos was a simple shepherd from Tekoa, a small town in Judah, about 12 miles south of Jerusalem. He was called by God to be a prophet and deliver a message of warning and judgment to the people of Israel for their sins and injustices. The passage was set in the city of Samaria, which was in central Israel, about 30 miles north of Jerusalem. Israel was comparatively wealthy and prosperous at that time. We know that with this often comes some officials, merchants, and ordinary citizens, being complicit in causing social injustices which plagued nations then and now.

If you read the Book of Amos (go on its only 9 short Chapters) its tone does seem harsh and uncompromising as he condemns the people for their empty religious rituals and their failure to seek justice and righteousness. He calls on them to repent and turn back to God, warning them of the impending judgment that will come if they do not change their ways. Amos challenged the people to truly live out their faith and seek justice for the oppressed and marginalized in their society. His God given purpose was to confront their stance over religious hypocrisy and social injustice. Through Amos, God states that he values justice, righteousness, and authentic worship more than mere outward displays of religion. We read that it’s not enough for us to go through the motions of religious practices without genuinely seeking justice and righteousness in our daily lives. God wants us to live with integrity, treating others with fairness and compassion, whilst worshipping Him with sincerity and reverence.

Amos was not alone in delivering his God given message. The prophets Isaiah and Micah, share similar sentiments in emphasizing the primacy of justice and righteousness over pure religious ceremony. Jesus picked up this theme in his criticism of the authorities during his ministry on earth and therefore Amos’ message remains relevant today, urging us to prioritise justice and righteousness alongside our preferred religious practices.

In a world marked by social injustices, we are challenged to align our beliefs with actions that promote fairness and equity for all. True justice and righteousness must be sought through genuine actions and attitudes that align with God’s will. This includes each of us living a life of integrity, treating others with fairness and compassion, and being mindful of our responsibilities towards those who are vulnerable or marginalised. We’re told that it’s not enough to simply go through the motions of our worship if our hearts are not committed to seeking justice and righteousness. God desires our true devotion and obedience, which is shown through our actions and attitudes towards others. This involves us speaking out against injustice, standing up for those who are oppressed, and actively working towards creating a more just and equitable world for all. We should have a deep commitment to God’s values of love, mercy, and compassion.

On this Remembrance Sunday we remember and honour those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice or life changing injuries in past conflict to keep us safe. What can we do in the light of the Amos and Matthew passages teaching. Well, we must, of course, pray for God to speak into situations to change leaders’ hearts and minds towards peace not violence. As I often say, God change the world but begin with me. But as I said a moment ago, we can also each contribute to God’s plan for a world filled with his peace and righteousness by aligning ourselves with God’s will in our sphere of influence however small or large that may be. We may never know what difference that may make in the wider world but, alongside true worship, if we act with the integrity of loving our God and loving our neighbour, it should certainly count for us come our judgement day. God bless. Alun