Comfort Always Competes with Compassion: Lessons from Amos 6

Devotional

Day 1: Do Not Despise Small Beginnings

God delights in the humble beginnings of our efforts, rejoicing not in the size or grandeur of what we start, but in the faith and willingness to begin with what we have. When we step out in obedience, even if our resources seem meager or our influence small, God promises to be with us and to multiply our impact. Rather than waiting for perfect conditions or greater means, we are called to trust that God can do great things through our simple acts of faith. Let this truth encourage you to take the next step, no matter how small, believing that God rejoices to see the work begin. [01:30]

Zechariah 4:10 (ESV)
"For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. These seven are the eyes of the Lord, which range through the whole earth."

Reflection: What is one small step of faith you can take today, trusting that God will use it for His glory?

Day 2: God Finishes What He Starts

God is faithful to complete the good work He begins in each of us, never abandoning us halfway or leaving us unfinished. Even when we feel incomplete or discouraged by our progress, we can be confident that God is still at work, shaping us and our community for His purposes. Our journey is ongoing, and the best is yet to come as we continue to trust in His promises and remain open to His leading. Celebrate what God has already done, but look forward with hope and expectation for all He still desires to accomplish in and through you. [03:30]

Philippians 1:6 (ESV)
"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."

Reflection: Where do you need to trust that God is still working in your life, even if you can’t see the results yet?

Day 3: Comfort Competes with Compassion

As blessings and comfort increase in our lives, there is a subtle danger that we become complacent, self-absorbed, and less sensitive to the needs of others. God warns us not to let comfort dull our dependence on Him or our compassion for those who are hurting. True spiritual maturity is not measured by how comfortable we are, but by how willing we are to risk, serve, and give for the sake of others. When comfort begins to compete with compassion, we must choose to let God’s love move us beyond ourselves and into action for those in need. [08:45]

Amos 6:1 (ESV)
"Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, and to those who feel secure on the mountain of Samaria, the notable men of the first of the nations, to whom the house of Israel comes!"

Reflection: In what area of your life has comfort made you less attentive to the needs of others, and how can you intentionally interrupt that comfort this week?

Day 4: Rekindle Compassion by Feeling What God Feels

To truly love others as Christ does, we must ask God to break our hearts for what breaks His and to help us see people through His eyes. It is easy to become emotionally numb or to justify our blessings as something we have earned, but God calls us to pray dangerous prayers that open us up to His compassion. When we allow God to stir our hearts, we become more aware of the hurting and lost around us, and we are moved to act with empathy and love. Pray today for God to give you His vision and to help you notice and care for those you might otherwise overlook. [18:14]

Matthew 9:36 (ESV)
"When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd."

Reflection: Who is someone in your life or community that you have overlooked or judged, and how can you ask God to help you see them with His compassion?

Day 5: Give Until It Costs Something

True generosity and sacrifice are not measured by what is easy or convenient, but by what costs us something meaningful. God calls us to give out of our areas of need, to serve even when it is uncomfortable, and to align our lives with His purposes through sacrificial love. When we give until it costs us—whether time, resources, forgiveness, or kindness—we become more like Christ and open ourselves to the miraculous work God wants to do through us. Sacrifice is not loss; it is alignment with God’s heart and mission. [24:08]

2 Samuel 24:24 (ESV)
"But the king said to Araunah, 'No, but I will buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing.' So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver."

Reflection: What is one area where God is calling you to give or serve sacrificially, and what step can you take today to move beyond convenience into true generosity?

Sermon Summary

Each year, we pause to reflect on the goodness of God and to challenge ourselves to reach further, love deeper, and serve more generously in the coming year. As I met with our next generation leaders this week, I was reminded of the humble beginnings of our church and the many voices that doubted what God could do in a small community. Yet, God’s word was clear: “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.” This truth has anchored us from the start, reminding us that God delights in our willingness to step out in faith, no matter how limited our resources may seem.

Looking back, we see the fruit of that faith—thousands coming to Christ, lives transformed, and a growing impact both locally and globally. But as we celebrate, we must also heed the warning from Amos 6: comfort can quietly erode our compassion. Israel, in their abundance, became complacent and self-absorbed, losing sight of the needs around them. The same danger faces us today. Comfort is not inherently wrong, but when it competes with compassion, it can dull our dependence on God and our sensitivity to the brokenness around us.

Jesus modeled a radically different response. When He saw the multitudes—even those hostile to Him—He was moved with compassion, not anger. True compassion means to “suffer with” others, to let our hearts break for what breaks God’s heart. This is not always natural for us, especially when we feel justified in our comfort or when we encounter those who oppose our values. Yet, we are called to love as Christ loved, to see people not as problems but as sheep without a shepherd.

To rekindle compassion, we must pray dangerous prayers, asking God to help us feel what He feels. We must choose compassion over convenience, intentionally interrupting our comfort to serve and build relationships with those in need. And we must give until it costs us something, understanding that sacrifice is not loss but alignment with God’s heart and purposes. When we step out in faith, even when it’s uncomfortable, God does extraordinary things through us. Let us be an army of compassion, seeking first His kingdom and trusting that all we need will be added to us.

Key Takeaways

1. Comfort Competes with Compassion Comfort is not sinful, but it becomes dangerous when it dulls our awareness of others’ needs and our dependence on God. As we become more comfortable, we risk becoming self-absorbed and less willing to take risks or serve sacrificially. True spiritual growth requires us to resist complacency and remain sensitive to the needs God places before us. [08:45]
2. Pray Dangerous Prayers Asking God to break our hearts for what breaks His is a risky but transformative prayer. It opens us to see the world through His eyes and to notice needs we might otherwise ignore. This kind of prayer leads us beyond routine religion into a life marked by genuine compassion and action. [18:14]
3. Choose Compassion Over Convenience Compassion often requires us to interrupt our schedules and step out of our comfort zones. Like the Good Samaritan, we are called not just to feel sympathy but to take action, even when it’s inconvenient or costly. Serving others in tangible ways aligns us with Christ’s example and brings His love to life in our communities. [21:49]
4. Give Until It Costs Something Sacrifice is not about loss but about aligning ourselves with God’s purposes. When we give—whether time, resources, or forgiveness—beyond what is easy, we experience deeper partnership with God. True generosity stretches us, but it also positions us to witness God’s power and provision in new ways. [24:08]
5. Full Surrender Unlocks Transformation Following Jesus is not a trial run; it requires full surrender. We cannot achieve true transformation or live out radical compassion in our own strength. Only by yielding our lives completely to Christ do we receive the grace and power to love as He loves. [28:31]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:48] - How to Access the Annual Report
[04:32] - Celebrating God’s Work Locally and Globally
[06:12] - The Danger of “I Just Want More”
[08:45] - Comfort vs. Compassion
[11:08] - Risks, Faith, and God’s Provision
[13:26] - The Subtle Trap of Comfort
[16:25] - Jesus’ Compassion for the Broken
[18:14] - Rekindling Compassion: Feel What God Feels
[19:40] - Praying Dangerous Prayers
[21:49] - Choosing Compassion Over Convenience
[24:08] - Give Until It Costs Something
[26:19] - Growth Through Discomfort and Sacrifice
[28:31] - Surrendering Fully to Christ
[31:18] - Prayer of Salvation and Closing

Bible Study Guide

**Small Group Bible Study Guide: Comfort vs. Compassion**

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### Bible Reading

**Amos 6:1 (ESV)**
> “Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, and to those who feel secure on the mountain of Samaria, the notable men of the first of the nations, to whom the house of Israel comes!”

**Matthew 9:36 (ESV)**
> “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

**2 Samuel 24:24 (ESV)**
> “But the king said to Araunah, ‘No, but I will buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing.’ So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.”

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### Observation Questions

In Amos 6:1, what does God warn Israel about, and what does it mean to be “at ease in Zion”? [08:45]
According to the sermon, what happened to Israel’s compassion as their comfort increased? [13:26]
How did Jesus respond to the crowds, even those who were hostile to Him, according to Matthew 9:36? [16:25]
What does David’s statement in 2 Samuel 24:24 reveal about the kind of offerings God desires? [24:08]

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### Interpretation Questions

Why does comfort have the potential to “compete” with compassion in a believer’s life? How did this play out in the story of Israel? [08:45]
The sermon describes Jesus’ compassion as “suffering with” others. What does this suggest about the depth and nature of true compassion? [16:25]
Why might God delight more in offerings or sacrifices that cost us something, rather than those that are easy or convenient? [24:08]
The pastor mentioned that Israel became emotionally numb and stopped noticing the needs around them. What are some signs that a person or church might be drifting into this same kind of numbness? [18:14]

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### Application Questions

The pastor said, “When we stop feeling need, we stop noticing need.” Is there an area of your life where comfort has dulled your awareness of others’ needs? What is one step you could take to become more sensitive? [08:45]
Think about a time when you felt justified in your comfort or even annoyed by someone who opposed your values. How might you respond differently if you saw them as “sheep without a shepherd,” like Jesus did? [16:25]
The sermon challenged us to “pray dangerous prayers,” asking God to break our hearts for what breaks His. Are you willing to pray this kind of prayer? What might change in your daily life if you did? [18:14]
The Good Samaritan interrupted his plans to help someone in need. What is one practical way you could intentionally “interrupt your comfort” this week to serve or build a relationship with someone in need? [21:49]
The pastor said, “Give until it costs something.” What is one area—time, money, forgiveness, or something else—where you could stretch yourself to give sacrificially? What would that look like for you? [24:08]
The sermon ended with a call to full surrender, not just a “trial run” with Jesus. Is there something you’re holding back from God? What would it look like to fully surrender that area to Him? [28:31]
The pastor described the church as an “army of compassion.” What would it look like for our small group to be known for radical compassion in our community? What is one action we could take together? [26:19]

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Sermon Clips

Don't let what I gave you become what keeps you from me. Can you look at your own life and see where God's taking you? And can you hear that same challenge from the book of Amos? Be careful that what God gave you doesn't become what keeps you from him because comfort is sneaky. [00:13:48] (21 seconds) #DontLetGiftsDistract

When you don't need a miracle, maybe you're not praying for miracles. I can tell today I'm going to preach better than y'all. Amen. I'm just going to bring it in and expect it. But that's the danger that Amos saw was that when they had everything in ancient Israel, they stopped needing God and they stopped calling out on God and they stopped noticing people. [00:14:25] (23 seconds) #PrayForMiracles

How do you feel when you see the multitudes in American culture today just seems to be running away? Our popular culture seems to be running away from God into godlessness. How does that make you feel? That's a good question because Amos didn't like the way Israel was feeling about that. [00:15:31] (19 seconds) #FeelingGodsLoss

When he saw the multitudes, he was moved with anger. No, with what? Say it out loud. Compassion. Because they were weary and scattered and they were just sheep without a shepherd. [00:16:20] (16 seconds) #CompassionateHeart

Do you know what compassion means? It means a feeling in your gut of pain, pain for that person. Jesus looks at these weary and broken people and he hurts inside for their souls. [00:17:04] (15 seconds) #LoveLikeChrist

We have to love them the way Christ loved them. Now, I'm going to tell you, I wrote the rest of this sermon for me. Probably all the rest of you are like, sure, I love all the broken people. But just for people like me who struggles with that sometimes, I'm going to show you three things we can do to rekindle. [00:17:56] (18 seconds) #PrayDangerousPrayers

You can fill your life with good things and miss the greatest things. So pray dangerous prayers. God, break my heart for what breaks yours. Give me vision to see what I've been missing and then act on what he shows you. [00:20:19] (15 seconds) #InterruptComfort

There are things that happen that God does in your life that can only happen through trials and struggles. And when you take leaps of faith and you get uncomfortable, God does things in your life. [00:27:15] (15 seconds) #SeekKingdomFirst

Seek his kingdom win first. I want to challenge you to do that. And as I was writing and thinking about this message, practice preaching it through the windshield of my truck this morning, I thought about you. I could see you as an army, an army of people, a compassionate army going out of this place and letting God creatively use us to change the community around us. [00:28:01] (27 seconds)

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