“Hear this, you that trample on the needy, and bring to ruin the poor of the land,” says the prophet Amos, calling us to attention. His warning to ancient Israel was clear and still rings true today: “The Lord has sworn by the pride of Jacob: Surely I will never forget any of their deeds” (Amos 8:4, 7). These verses remind us to consider how we use our resources, wealth, and power, and whether they reflect God’s justice.

Amos spoke to people living in prosperity while the gap between rich and poor was widening. He denounced the social inequality he saw and called out those who caused it, cooperated with it, and failed to correct it. He especially exposed the hypocrisy of pretending to worship and serve God while exploiting the poor and the vulnerable, quoting the people’s own thoughts: “How soon will the Sabbath rest requirements be over so we can get back to shortchanging people and making money?” (Amos 8:5–6, my paraphrasing). God’s message through Amos is clear: God demands mercy, justice, and humility from ALL his people, and does not abide a world where the poor are ignored or the weak are taken advantage of.

Jesus carried this same truth forward. In Luke’s Gospel, he declares, “You cannot serve both God and wealth” (Luke 16:13). With the parable of the “squandering manager” (Luke16:1-13), Jesus reminds us that every day we make choices about the resources God has entrusted to us. Will we use them for ourselves alone, or will we put them toward God’s priorities of compassion, mercy, justice, peace, and the easing of suffering?

Serving God is not a half-hearted act. It is a full-time commitment— it shapes your values, your priorities, your attitudes, your motivations, your goals, your work, your relationships, your words, your actions, everything. Serving God means giving your whole self to God’s vision for creation.

Sadly, our world is much like that of the prophet Amos. Wealth and material goods have become idols in our culture, and many people are victims of poverty and injustice. We may never change that big picture, yet we are called to faithful living that can and does make a difference, to us and to the world. We are each gifted in ways to do that, and we cannot afford to waste any of our gifts or resources.

Jesus’ words challenge us directly: “Give me an account of your management. Have you been squandering any of those gifts I gave you?” It is a question worth carrying in our hearts. How have we used our time, our energy, our skills, and our money? Have we used them to build relationships, relieve suffering, promote healing, and to address injustice and poverty right here in our community?

As “children of light,” our trust in God’s provision enables us to courageously care for our own needs and the good of everyone. And we do not stay silent or inactive or simply accept conditions in the world we know God would not tolerate.

This is Good News! That God has so loved us, gifted us, and entrusted us with the ability to make a difference in our community and in the kingdom of heaven.

The prophet Micah reminds us of our path forward: “He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8).

We warmly invite you to join us at Trinity Episcopal Church each Sunday at 10:00 a.m. You will find a welcoming congregation, uplifting liturgy, and the good news of God’s love shared in word and sacrament. All are welcome— come and be part of a community that seeks to stand tall together in faith and love.

The Eufaula Indian Journal • Thursday, November 28, 2019