Hear this, you who trample upon the needy and destroy the poor of the land! —
The LORD has sworn by the pride of Jacob: Never will I forget a thing they have done! (From Amos 8:4,7)

Maybe you don’t trample upon the needy, but do you ignore them?  Maybe you don’t attempt to ruin the lives of those less fortunate, but do you support policies that take food from the mouths of refugees and children?  Maybe you’re not trying to destroy the poor, but do your leaders do all they can for the homeless veterans and those recovering from addiction?  Do you destroy the land by your farming practices or by tilling up natural flood control areas?  Do you go after your competitors in an attempt to run them out of business or off of their land or to take more of the market share than you need?  Any of these practices should give us pause by what we hear the LORD say through the prophet Amos, “Never will I forget a thing they have done!”  Will God forgive and forget if you change your ways and ask for mercy?  Absolutely and without a doubt!  But, my sisters and brothers in Christ, we need to take a look at our lives and the decisions we make as the poor and needy are looking to us for help!  Will we say “yes” to them and, therefore, “yes” to the LORD or will we say “no” to LORD through our rejection of those in need?  Say “yes” and the LORD will remember, say “no” and he’ll never forget!  Serve, assist, support, strengthen, and love those in need, dear friends, and the LORD will do the same for you too!  Amen!