When I was first invited to contribute to The Message Women’s Devotional Bible, I had no idea that I would end up writing on Amos 4:

“Listen to this, you cows of Bashan
    grazing on the slopes of Samaria.
You women! Mean to the poor,
    cruel to the down-and-out!
Indolent and pampered, you demand of your husbands,
    ‘Bring us a tall, cool drink!’

 “This is serious—I, God, have sworn by my holiness!
    Be well warned: Judgment Day is coming!
They’re going to rope you up and haul you off,
    keep the stragglers in line with cattle prods.
They’ll drag you through the ruined city walls,
    forcing you out single file,
And kick you to kingdom come.”
    God’s Decree.
—Amos 4:1–3, The Message

The Problem of Prosperity

Warning: being wealthy can be dangerous!

The prophet Amos used harsh language to address the wealthy women of Samaria who were acting mean, cruel, self-indulgent, and entitled. He called them “cows of Bashan” after the well-fed animals that grazed on the nearby hillsides. He warned them, “Judgment Day is coming! They’re going to rope you up and haul you off, keep the stragglers in line with cattle prods” (v. 2).

The harsh words of the prophet were not directed only at the women. Men and women alike were guilty of being careless with their wealth. When they brought their sacrifices, tithes, and offerings to the Temple, their acts of religion were more for show than anything else (vv. 4-5). The people ignored God’s call to justice and righteousness (5:7). They made money by exploiting the poor (5:10-12). They lived only for themselves (6:3-6). Clearly, prosperity had become a problem for the Israelites.

Any amount of wealth can be dangerous—for us, too. Perhaps without realizing it, we can skew our priorities to appear religious rather than genuinely seeking after God and obeying God’s commands regarding money. Wealth can be dangerous when it leads us to ignore God’s call to live justly and compassionately with other people and care for the earth God created. Like the Israelites in the time of Amos, we need to consider: Do we treat other people as things? Do we exploit the poor for our own advantage? Do we step on others to get ahead? (2:6-8). 

The book of Amos doesn’t end happily ever after with the Israelites suddenly waking up and changing their ways. Throughout Israel’s history God repeatedly called the people to repentance. In times of hunger, in times of drought, as the people lived through crop failure, disease, earthquake, and fire, God longed for them to turn from themselves and seek after God. Yet over and over this sad refrain repeats: “You continued to ignore me. . . . You continued to ignore me. . . . You continued to ignore me. . . . You continued to ignore me” (vv. 6, 9, 10, 11).

Would this time be any different?

Amos 4:12 sounds an ominous note: “Time’s up, O Israel! Prepare to meet your God.” Yet even these words hold out hope. God is still waiting, still longing for genuine relationship. There is still time to prepare. The almighty God who shapes mountains and commands angels is “your God”—not some remote, impersonal being, but a personal God who claimed the Israelites as God’s people and who longs to gather us in.

Let us then heed the prophet and prepare to meet God. Instead of getting caught up in the dangers of wealth, let us seek after God with sincere hearts. Instead of allowing prosperity to turn us to selfishness and exploitation, let us treat others with fairness and compassion. Let us learn to give generously—not for show, but for the well-being of others and in faithful service to God.

“The Problem of Prosperity” by April Yamasaki, excerpted from The Message Women’s Devotional Bible © 2025 by The Navigators. Used by permission. All rights reserved.