Do not get comfortable
We are here on earth for a short time and so we should not get too comfortable. It might be easy or tempting to get carried away with the cares of this world and forget that we are passing through, eternity is the real goal.
As we go through life we need to be conscious and focused on continuing to grow spiritually so that we do not get spiritually dull, too comfortable or complacent. While working and building wealth to live on earth is important, it should not become a goal in itself. We cannot forget to spend time with God who is the creator and the giver of all things.
Are you becoming too comfortable?
Everyone can fall victim to this complacent and comfortable trap. There are some sure signs to know you are getting too comfortable and too complacent – taking your eyes off God and focusing on the here and now. God measure us by different yard stick than the world does.
The prophet Amos warned people and Christians who were forgetting about others and their needs. They were getting too comfortable with their lives and forgetting that coming disaster looms for those who sit pretty and forget to care about others.
“What sorrow awaits you who lounge in luxury in Jerusalem and you who feel secure in Samaria! (v1)….You drink wine by the bowlful and perfume yourselves with fragrant lotions. You care nothing about the ruin of your nation. Therefore, you will be the first to be led away as captives. Suddenly, all your parties will end”. (Amos 6:1-7)
God is not saying we should not enjoy what we have, but he wants us to remember he is the source, to care about others and what matters to him.
Three signs you are too comfortable
- You base your security on comparisons – This is when you base your life on comparing yourself to others. You think you are better than other people, or you think you don’t need to improve yourself. You think that if Mr. X can get so and so job, then surely you can and should also get it as well. You think you are secure in what you know and what you have. Or you look at others and think that surely what happened to them can never happen to you.
“But go over to Calneh and see what happened there. Then go to the great city of Hamath and down to the Philistine city of Gath. You are no better than they were and look at how they were destroyed” (v2).
The passage above is a reminder from the prophet that do not look at others and fancy yourselves to be secure or to be better than others based on what you see. The truth is that the only security you can bank on is security in the Lord.
- Focus on temporal things – We should never be tempted to replace our time with God for things of this world that are temporary. There is a place for material things but this should not replace God and knowledge that he is the true source. So many times we ask God for more and for what we want, while never spending time asking God what he wants from us and what he would have us do.
“How terrible for you who sprawl on ivory beds and lounge on your couches, eating the meat of tender lambs from the flock and of choice calves fattened in the stall” (v4).
We should not get too comfortable with want we have, material goods and forget to seek and grow in God. God gives us everything we need versus everything that we want (Matthew 6:33)
- Lack of sensitivity towards the state of others – Have you gotten to the stage where you have stopped caring about others, it can start slowly but overtime if not watched, you can stop caring about others needs. You become proud in what you now have and forget to be sensitive towards others.
“You drink wine by the bowlful and perfume yourselves with fragrant lotions. You care nothing about the ruin of your nation” (v6)
A person is a fool to store up worldly goods and material things and forget that God expects you to love and care for others. (Luke 12:16-21)
Do not work so hard to build temporary things and material goods, judging people based on how they look versus how they are on the inside. This is a waste of time at the end of the day.
We do not want to be rich on this earth and broken in eternity. Do not get too comfortable, fill your eternal bank account and not just the earthly one.
