Amos 1:1 The words of Amos, one of the shepherds of Tekoa—the vision he saw concerning Israel two years before the earthquake, when Uzziah was king of Judah and Jeroboam son of Jehoash was king of Israel.
We live in a world of resumes and curriculum vitae. We are fascinated by ‘the experts.’ We value education and experience and hold that that is what entitles one to speak to their chosen area. As much as we revere or honor experts and their opinions, we equally discount the uneducated. It makes sense. Who better to write a book of Proverbs than Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived? But what about the book of Amos? Who was he? Well, he was a shepherd!
Shepherds were not honored citizens in those days. They didn’t gain any special accord because David had been a shepherd. They were basically on the very fringes of society. Their work forced them to be. They couldn’t leave their sheep. They lived rough with their livestock. They may have known those animals but no one would seek them out for their expertise on anything else! Yet, Amos was a shepherd who’d had a vision.
He pushed ahead in his goal to obey God based, not on what he had done, but on what God had done. Amos hadn’t gone to school, hadn’t studied under some rabbi or priest. Hadn’t even read a book. He’d had a vision. So he preached and wrote.
Aren’t we often tempted to hold back from speaking a word for God because we aren’t an expert? The idea that God wants to use us often makes us really nervous. Or we think, “I’ve got nothing of worth to God!” Perhaps we think that if God was really going to use us, we’d need to get some training. Take some classes. Something that might make us an expert so people would be inclined to listen.
But what if God wants to treat us like Amos? What if I’m really not an expert, never will be, and that’s exactly what God is looking for? Be assured, He didn’t choose Amos by accident! He wasn’t saddened to learn that Amos was a shepherd! He’s also not worried that you might not have what it takes. Amos had a vision. That vision was from God. In other words, what God wanted him to talk and write about, He provided him.
God is, (or has been trying to) build a story into your life. You have lived it and so to you, it may not seem like much. But it is the story that He has given you. Don’t assume that you must be more than you are to be useful to God. He is not nearly so interested in your expertise as He is in your willingness and obedience!
We may not really have that much. But we have what God has given and that is all He will expect us to start with! Begin to see how God wants to use you!
Blessings,
Pastor Russ
