Seek Good, Not Evil

Amos 5:14–15, 24 — “Seek good and not evil, that you may live; and so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you… Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the gate… But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”

When Amos spoke these words, God’s people were going through the motions of worship, but their lives outside the sanctuary told a different story. They sang the songs, offered the sacrifices, and said the prayers — but their daily living was marked by injustice and self-interest. God’s call through Amos was clear: if you want My presence, pursue goodness, reject evil, and make justice part of the fabric of your life.

I remember the moment this truth really landed for me. Many years ago, I worked as a salesperson at Circuit City. In that kind of retail environment, the best sales often came during peak shopping hours — evenings, weekends, and holidays. One manager had a habit of giving those prime shifts to his friends. I remember looking at the schedule one week and feeling the frustration boil up in me. It wasn’t fair to me — my paycheck depended on having those same opportunities.

I stewed over it for a while, asking God to fix what I saw as an injustice against me. But in the middle of those prayers, I felt a nudge from the Spirit: “You’re right, this isn’t fair to you… but it’s not just you. It’s unfair to everyone else who’s not in his inner circle.”

That was a turning point for me. I realized my definition of “justice” was far too small. I had only been concerned about my slice of the pie, but God was showing me the whole picture — how favoritism, bias, and inequity harm entire communities, not just individuals.

Seeking good means more than avoiding bad behavior. It’s actively working for what is right, even when it doesn’t directly benefit us. Letting justice roll like a mighty river means it flows into the places we live, work, and play — not just into our personal circumstances.

Amos reminds us that God isn’t just interested in our Sunday worship; He’s watching how we treat others on Monday morning. Do we stand up for those who have no voice? Do we work for fairness in our communities? Do we love our neighbor as ourselves — not just in theory, but in action?

Today, let’s not just want things to be right when it affects us. Let’s be part of making things right for everyone. And when we do, we’ll find God’s presence flowing through us like that ever-moving stream — bringing life, refreshment, and hope wherever it goes.

In God’s grip,

Pastor Chuck Church

Prayer:
Lord, help me to seek good and not evil. Forgive me when my view of justice is too small. Teach me to love what You love and to let justice flow through my everyday choices, so that Your righteousness touches everyone around me. Amen.