No Rest for the Wicked
How frequently does our perception get distorted by real-life circumstances? How do real-life circumstances serve as blinders that block our spiritual foresight? Answers to such questions become relevant when you observe the behavior of God's chosen people in the book of Micah. These Israelites exemplified a selfish lifestyle prior to their 70-year captivity in Babylon. For instance, in Micah’s time, wine and strong drinks were seen as symbols of prosperity. Therefore, the people of Judah ignored Micah's warnings to stop exploiting the poor for selfish gain because it boosted their wealth. Most of their activities reflected their efforts to buy and sell in order to improve their status, rather than focusing on the well-being of others. To reinforce their tendency to acquire possessions, they favored the false teachings of other prophets who compared their wealth favorably with God, which led to celebrations involving wine and strong drink. At one point, the Israelites reminded the Prophet Micah:
“Don’t say such things,”
the people respond.
“Don’t prophesy like that.
Such disasters will never come our way!”
Micah 2:7 NLT
In other words, the people of Israel would rather hear lies than the truth. Likewise, can we recognize the same attitude today? For example, how often do we prefer hearing about blessings instead of responsibilities? How often do we choose to hear about how to increase our bank accounts rather than helping our fellow brothers? How often do we listen more to promises of receiving material wealth from God instead of understanding what He requires of us as Kingdom workers?
Such a mindset reveals a deep-seated denial, adding to the refusal to acknowledge that one’s selfish demeanor bore consequences. The prevailing belief of the Israelites was that their prosperity equated to divine favor. This perspective caused them to become blind to the stink of their apparent success. In their comfort, the Israelites dismissed the painful truths voiced by Micah, choosing instead to shelter behind assurances that their prosperity was a sign of God’s favor. Yet, their history of ignoring prophetic warnings led to undeniable hardship, resulting in the forfeiture of all their land and possessions.
So, I ask myself a similar question in this modern era of prosperity: if God allowed consequences to materialize against the guilty among His chosen people in the Old Testament, what excuse will New Testament believers have for unfulfilled Kingdom work that He assigns to them? Moving forward, let us act sincerely as sons and daughters of God, so we can repeat what Jesus said in Luke 2:49.
"How is it that you were looking for me? Did you not know that I must be about my Father's business?"
The truth hurts!