Times are hard. My home value is stagnant. My wages are in decline. It costs more every year to run the air conditioning in my house. You should see how much it costs to fill the tank on my SUV!

Wait a second—times are hard? Maybe for the long-term unemployed, but for the other 90 percent of our country? Would our lives be considered hard by people from a malarial village in Africa? We live in a time of unprecedented health and wealth. But can our prosperity be a problem?

Consider the words of the prophet who called out to a prosperous nation—Amos.

The problem with prosperity

At the time of Amos, Israel enjoyed unprecedented prosperity. Life had not been this good since King Solomon. Explore what life was like and the problems that prosperity brought.

1. Read 2 Kings 14:23-29. What was national security like for Israel? What did it cause?

Answer - A very long reign for Israel's king meant a stable government. This was the silver age of Israel, with the borders extending further than at any time other than under David and Solomon. However, godly political leadership did not accompany the success and prosperity that God gave.

2. Read 2 Chronicles 26. What was national security like for Judah? What did it cause?

Answer - Judah had a powerful army, machines of war, and a renewed ability to project power in the region. For Judah, too, this was a time of unprecedented prosperity and power. However, it made the leadership of the country arrogant. The king tried to take the place of God and was opposed by priests and God himself.

3. What kind of material prosperity did Israel enjoy?

a. Amos 3:15.

Answer - At a time when much of the world was living in mud huts, the people of Israel had great prosperity. Here God talks about them having summer homes and winter homes—homes decorated with ivory, homes that are mansions. Does this sound familiar?

b. Amos 5:11.

Answer - Stone mansions and vineyards. Beautiful homes and bountiful food and drink. Does this sound familiar?

c. Amos 6:4-6.

Answer - Beds of ivory; lying on couches; dining on lamb and veal; listening to music; drinking wine and using lotions. Does this sound familiar?

4. Compare life in 21st-century America to the conditions you see in Israel. What conclusions can you draw?

Answer - There are plenty of parallels. We live in an age of American hegemony. Our life expectancy is 50 percent higher than a century ago. We are richer than any people in the history of the world. America is marked by unprecedented prosperity.