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July 11, 2010 |
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Amos 7: 1-9
This is what the Lord God showed me: he was forming locusts at the time the latter growth began to sprout (it was the latter growth after the king's mowings).
When they had finished eating the grass of the land, I said, “O Lord God, forgive, I beg you! How can Jacob stand? He is so small!”
The Lord relented concerning this; “It shall not be,” said the Lord.
This is what the Lord God showed me: the Lord God was calling for a shower of fire, and it devoured the great deep and was eating up the land.
Then I said, “O Lord God, cease, I beg you! How can Jacob stand? He is so small!”
The Lord relented concerning this; “This also shall not be,” said the Lord God.
This is what he showed me: the Lord was standing beside a wall built with a plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand. And the Lord said to me, “Amos, what do you see?”
And I said, “A plumb line.”
Then the Lord said, “See, I am setting a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel; I will never again pass them by; the high places of Isaac shall be made desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste, and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.”
Luke 10: 25-37
Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?”
He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”
And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.”
But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?”
He said, “The one who showed him mercy.”
Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
Setting Standards
So many things in today’s society seem to be subjective and relative. Each person is encouraged to judge for themselves ethical and moral behavioral limitations. As long as there are no negative or disruptive societal or community implications, individual behaviors are left unchecked and independent. With such latitude and flexibility, there is an unfortunate tendency for us to become more self-centered and self-serving. We test the values and mores we’ve learned from the previous generation and see what we can get away with in contemporary times. If we perceive only minimal negative consequences, we then assume validation. An ethic of self creates and widens the chasms between the haves and the have-nots. This prioritizing of self-gratification produces behaviors and circumstances that justify injustice, encourage inequity, and standardize the status quo.
In today’s society, from where do our standards come? What sets the bar, and how high, for acceptable behavior and conduct in our contemporary communities? I believe that the scriptures still prove to be a phenomenal resource for standards. The Bible provides basic, simplistic, logical concepts and paradigms for living wholesome, holistic, mutualistic, Spirit-guided lives. Today’s texts shared above are two excellent examples of clear-cut standards declared for our conviction and edification. Amos and Jesus do not mince words or sugar-coat the expectations that God has for those who would profess to be believers and followers.
There is no dilution or compromise in what is presented. The plumb line is set, and there is no room for discussion or deliberation. Worship on the Sabbath, with all its magnanimous pietistic rituals, is meaningless, says Amos, if there is no justice and mercy happening in the streets during the rest of the week. Justice, mercy, compassion, and equity are all the demonstrations of God’s will, and are the epitome and purpose for which the Laws of the Torah were given. Amos prophecy declares that, unless these factors are in play, in interpersonal as well as political interactions, a stable society cannot exist. The nation, the people will fall.
Jesus makes clear the bottom line with respect to standards of behavior; other-centeredness is the only way. The parable of the Good Samaritan proclaims the good news that issues of class, education, financial status, religious status, race, nationality, or anything else that we would use to justify division, are all irrelevant when an opportunity to exhibit compassion and grace-full-ness arises. We each must ask ourselves, “Is what I’m doing self-serving or other-serving? Is what I’m standing for self-gratifying or other-edifying?” If we ask ourselves these questions, I believe that every aspect of our daily lives and relationships will be impacted in wonderfully blessed ways.
