Life Principle 19
Anything you hold too tightly, you will lose. (Amos 6:6-7)
Anything you hold too tightly, you will lose. (Amos 6:6-7)
Life’s Questions
What can you not live without? What would utterly devastate you if you lost it? Is it a relationship, possession, or a certain situation in your life? Is it more important to you than God? You need to consider how tight a hold it actually has on you because it could become counter-productive and even dangerous. What would you do if God asked you to give it up? Could you obey Him? Does the thought of letting it go cause you to feel anxious and out of control?
If there is something in your life that could keep you from trusting and honoring the Lord, it is an idol, and God is not going to allow you to keep it in your grasp. Life Principle 19 teaches, Anything you hold too tightly, you will lose. If you are looking to anything other than God for your sense of acceptance, accomplishment, and security, then you are headed for serious trouble, because it will not last. Sooner or later, God will assert His rightful role as the only Lord of your life.
*** Amos was a shepherd and farmer in Judah who warned Israel about God’s coming judgment (c. 760 BC to 750 BC). King Jeroboam II had expanded Israel’s territory and wealth, but the prosperity corrupted the people and they became even more immoral and idolatrous.
What the Bible Says
Read Amos 2:6–8. How were the Israelites displeasing to the Lord?
Read Amos 6:1–8. What were the Israelites trusting in (1)?
What attitude were the people of Israel exhibiting in verses 4–5?
What do you think the affliction of Joseph was (6; see also Ezek. 34:2–4)?
What did God hate about Israel’s behavior (8; see also Ps. 10:2–4)? What was God’s punishment (7)?
What It Means
The Israelites were so enamored with their prosperity that they forgot God (see Hos. 10:1–3). They became prideful in their affluence and military victories and believed that they didn’t need Him anymore. So when God called them to repentance, they refused to obey His commands or let Him back into their lives. They just weren’t willing give up their wealth and ease for Him—and it cost them everything.
Life Examples
Read 2 Kings 17:5–20. How did Amos’ prophecy come true (5–6)?
How had God warned them (13)? How does He use similar methods today to warn people about their sinfulness?
How did the Israelites respond to God (14–17)?
What happened to everything that the Israelites were trying to hold onto (18–20)?
*** Israel’s capital, Samaria, was destroyed in 722 BC by Assyria. Thousands of Israelites were taken captive to Media and Upper Mesopotamia. The rest were made to live under Assyrian rule, and Israel itself ceased to exist. From there, the land changed hands many times, and Israel did not become a nation again until May 14, 1948.
Living the Principle
God sent prophets to Israel and Judah before sending His judgment (see Amos 3:7). As we discussed in Life Principle 10, God will move heaven and earth to show you His will. God wants you to know what is going on and what His plan is for you. However, no matter what the circumstances may be, your most important responsibility is always to trust and obey Him. If there is something that you are honoring above God, He will let you know that it displeases Him and He will call you to lay that person, possession, or situation down on your own. However, if you refuse to submit it to Him, He will pry it out of your hands, which is always extremely painful.
God will not share the control of your life with something or someone else. Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other” (Matt. 6:24). You neither honor God nor help yourself by having a divided heart. Therefore, make a decision about what will rule your life once and for all. Surrender whatever is coming between you and the Lord.
The good news is that no matter what God requires you to give up, you can be certain that your life is going to be much better without it in the long run. God is not punishing you by taking this precious thing from you—He is preparing to give you something even better.
*** Keep your eyes on God and not the blessing.
How will you live out Life Principle 19 this week? Discuss what you are having trouble giving up and how you will keep each other accountable in honoring God. Then spend time in prayer, asking God to draw you into intimate communion with Himself and to transform your life, so that you can affect the world for the sake of His kingdom.
Life Lessons to Remember
God loves you too much to allow any notions of self-sufficiency or dependence upon anything other than Himself (see 2 Cor. 12:7–10).
What can you not live without? What would utterly devastate you if you lost it? Is it a relationship, possession, or a certain situation in your life? Is it more important to you than God? You need to consider how tight a hold it actually has on you because it could become counter-productive and even dangerous. What would you do if God asked you to give it up? Could you obey Him? Does the thought of letting it go cause you to feel anxious and out of control?
If there is something in your life that could keep you from trusting and honoring the Lord, it is an idol, and God is not going to allow you to keep it in your grasp. Life Principle 19 teaches, Anything you hold too tightly, you will lose. If you are looking to anything other than God for your sense of acceptance, accomplishment, and security, then you are headed for serious trouble, because it will not last. Sooner or later, God will assert His rightful role as the only Lord of your life.
*** Amos was a shepherd and farmer in Judah who warned Israel about God’s coming judgment (c. 760 BC to 750 BC). King Jeroboam II had expanded Israel’s territory and wealth, but the prosperity corrupted the people and they became even more immoral and idolatrous.
What the Bible Says
Read Amos 2:6–8. How were the Israelites displeasing to the Lord?
Read Amos 6:1–8. What were the Israelites trusting in (1)?
What attitude were the people of Israel exhibiting in verses 4–5?
What do you think the affliction of Joseph was (6; see also Ezek. 34:2–4)?
What did God hate about Israel’s behavior (8; see also Ps. 10:2–4)? What was God’s punishment (7)?
What It Means
The Israelites were so enamored with their prosperity that they forgot God (see Hos. 10:1–3). They became prideful in their affluence and military victories and believed that they didn’t need Him anymore. So when God called them to repentance, they refused to obey His commands or let Him back into their lives. They just weren’t willing give up their wealth and ease for Him—and it cost them everything.
Life Examples
Read 2 Kings 17:5–20. How did Amos’ prophecy come true (5–6)?
How had God warned them (13)? How does He use similar methods today to warn people about their sinfulness?
How did the Israelites respond to God (14–17)?
What happened to everything that the Israelites were trying to hold onto (18–20)?
*** Israel’s capital, Samaria, was destroyed in 722 BC by Assyria. Thousands of Israelites were taken captive to Media and Upper Mesopotamia. The rest were made to live under Assyrian rule, and Israel itself ceased to exist. From there, the land changed hands many times, and Israel did not become a nation again until May 14, 1948.
Living the Principle
God sent prophets to Israel and Judah before sending His judgment (see Amos 3:7). As we discussed in Life Principle 10, God will move heaven and earth to show you His will. God wants you to know what is going on and what His plan is for you. However, no matter what the circumstances may be, your most important responsibility is always to trust and obey Him. If there is something that you are honoring above God, He will let you know that it displeases Him and He will call you to lay that person, possession, or situation down on your own. However, if you refuse to submit it to Him, He will pry it out of your hands, which is always extremely painful.
God will not share the control of your life with something or someone else. Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other” (Matt. 6:24). You neither honor God nor help yourself by having a divided heart. Therefore, make a decision about what will rule your life once and for all. Surrender whatever is coming between you and the Lord.
The good news is that no matter what God requires you to give up, you can be certain that your life is going to be much better without it in the long run. God is not punishing you by taking this precious thing from you—He is preparing to give you something even better.
*** Keep your eyes on God and not the blessing.
How will you live out Life Principle 19 this week? Discuss what you are having trouble giving up and how you will keep each other accountable in honoring God. Then spend time in prayer, asking God to draw you into intimate communion with Himself and to transform your life, so that you can affect the world for the sake of His kingdom.
Life Lessons to Remember
God loves you too much to allow any notions of self-sufficiency or dependence upon anything other than Himself (see 2 Cor. 12:7–10).