Pleasure

Self-Indulgent? Who, Me?

Is your lifestyle focused on peace and pleasure, comfort and convenience? The affluent people to whom Amos was speaking lived a lifestyle of luxury that many modern-day Westerners would recognize (Amos 6:3–7). But the prophet pronounced woe on them for allowing their easy living to lull them into spiritual slumber (Amos 6:3). Their self-indulgence completely deadened their sensitivity to the Lord.

Could your lifestyle be described as self-indulgent? Is it designed around making yourself feel good and satisfying your own desires, with little thought of the needs of others or the values and concerns of God?

To help you think about these issues, carefully read Amos' description of the Israelites' lifestyle, then reflect on the following questions. The point is not that having material things is a cause for guilt, but to think carefully about what Jesus called the “deceitfulness of riches” (Matt. 13:22), which can strangle your spiritual life.

• Do you view a forty-hour maximum work week as a right to which you are entitled?
• What kind of home do you live in? Would others in our society be envious? Is your home a benefit to anyone else?
• Do you spend more on clothing each month than you give to your church or to charity in a year? Who benefits materially from your disposable income?
• How much do you spend on personal grooming—for example, on such things as hair care, manicures, pedicures, facials, massages, cosmetics, or perfume?
• Have you ever had plastic surgery other than to correct a medical problem? Describe your motivation in doing so.
• What percentage of your income do you donate to your church, religious organizations, or charities? Has that increased or decreased in the past three years? How much is your giving determined by tax advantages?
• Do you aspire to be rich? How do you define “rich”? What would you consider to be “enough” for you in financial terms? Could you live on ten percent less income than you have now? Thirty percent? How about fifty percent?
• Do you own a second home or vacation home?
• How do you spend your leisure—the time that is not taken up with work and family obligations?

How would you fare under Amos' scrutiny? What kind of a steward are you with God's resources?