Amos 8:4-10

Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy.

Avarice

I. It is execrable in its spirit.

1. It is sacrilegious. Bad as Israel was, it still kept up the mere observances of religion, yet these observances they regarded as commercial inconveniences. Avarice in heart has no reverence for religion.

2. It is dishonest. Always over-reaching, always cheating. It makes its fortunes out of the brain and muscles, the sweat and life of the needy.

3. It is cruel. Avarice deadens all social affections.

II. It is abhorrent to Jehovah. “The Lord hath sworn by the excellency of Jacob, Surely I will never forget any of their works.” Some render the “excellency of Jacob” the “pride of Jacob,” and suppose the expression to mean, that Israel professed to regard Him as its glory: and therefore it is by Himself, for He can swear by no one greater. God observes all the cruelties which avarice inflicts upon the poor. Nothing is more abhorrent to His benevolent nature than covetousness.

1. It is repugnant to His nature. His love is disinterested, unbounded love, working ever for the good of the universe. Greed is a hideous antagonist to this.

2. It is hostile to universal happiness. He created the universe in order to diffuse happiness; but greed is against it.

(1) It is against the happiness of its possessor. The soul under the influence of covetousness can neither grow in power nor be gratified in desire.

(2) It is against the happiness of society.

III. It is a curse to society. “Shall not the land tremble for this,” etc.

1. How God makes nature an avenging angel. He makes “the land tremble.” He “toucheth the hills and they smoke,” pours out waters as a flood.

2. How God makes a multitude to suffer on account of tile iniquities of the few. “And I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentations: and I will bring up sackcloth,” etc. (Homilist.)