The Five Faces of Complacency: Why Spiritual Self-Satisfaction is More Dangerous Than You Think

Complacency can be defined as “self-satisfaction, especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual danger or deficiencies.” We have all witnessed athletes celebrating prematurely before being overtaken at the finish line, or students who ignored looming examinations only to fail spectacularly. In each case, self-importance and self-indulgence created a complacent spirit towards impending danger.

Around 750 BC, the nations of Israel and Judah faced precisely this problem. God warned through the prophet Amos that they would be defeated by unseen powerful nations, yet they remained utterly unprepared due to their consistent complacency. The oracle in Amos 6:1–14 reveals five sobering characteristics of complacency that remain relevant for believers today.

Both Judah and Israel trusted in their self-important position, privilege, and prestige. Their geographic locations—Mount Zion and Mount Samaria—were elevated cities providing protection from enemy forces. Rather than trusting in God as their refuge, they chose to trust in their own resources. As one commentator noted, for these people a mighty fortress was their god rather than “a mighty fortress is our God.”

The passage particularly rebukes the leaders who saw themselves as “notable men of the first of the nations” (Amos 6:1). They boasted how the people came to them seeking wisdom. Yet prominence, position, and popularity breed sinful complacency fuelled by pride. Self-importance does not breed dependence upon the Lord; rather, it breeds self-righteous self-sufficiency.

Amos asks rhetorical questions in vv. 2–3, expecting the surprising answer, “No.” Though Zion and Samaria boasted in their greatness, they were not as great as they imagined. He exhorts them to compare their kingdoms with adjoining territories—Calneh, Hamath, and Gath. These mighty kingdoms had assumed they were invincible, yet God brought them to an end. How could guilty Judah and Israel escape similar chastisement?

Gary Smith observes: “They carelessly imagine that there are no military forces that can threaten them, no financial dangers that can deny them the affluent life, and no political enemies that can undermine their powerful political status.” They were in for a ruinously rude awakening.

Complacency results not only in self-importance but also in careless self-indulgence. Verses 4–7 portray God’s people lounging in luxury, oblivious to the threat of his imminent judgement. They were consumed with carousing and catering, completely careless concerning God’s judgement.

They reclined on “beds of ivory” (v. 4)—fancy furniture inlaid with expensive ivory. Their menu consisted of pen-fed veal and the finest lambs. They boasted about their music at elaborate feasts, gorged themselves with food, and washed it down with voluminous amounts of wine from bowls as large as those used in the temple. They bathed and anointed themselves with the finest oils.

Yet amidst all their self-indulgent feasting, they were “not grieved over the ruin of Joseph” (v. 6). The nation was as sheep without a shepherd, harassed and in imminent peril. Rather than using their authority to produce flourishing, they abused it and brought failure. Complacent leaders produce lambs for the slaughter, failing to equip them to face the world, the flesh, and the devil.

This confrontation particularly concerns leaders—the self-designated “notable men.” As go the leaders, so go the people. This is true in society, but equally true in the home and church. Complacent husbands lay the foundation for calamity in their marriage. Complacent fathers lay the foundation for calamity for their children. Complacent elders lay the foundation for calamity in the church.

God’s commitment to his covenantal faithfulness is such that he backs up his promise with his own name: “The Lord GOD has sworn by himself” (v. 8). God can swear by nothing greater than his own existence. This terminology represents his unalterable promise, and history provides the footnote pointing to his fidelity—Assyria invaded and the ten tribes ceased to be a kingdom.

Israel’s complacency was nourished by conceit. Amos highlights “the pride of Jacob” and their “strongholds” (v. 8). They boasted they were untouchable because of their location and military prowess. They were arrogant because self-sufficient. Their pride of position, power, prosperity, and prowess set them up for the proverbial fall: “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18).

1. S. Lewis wrote: “Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind.” When pride grips someone’s life, they are most likely to turn a deaf and complacent ear to God. If we are masters of our own fate, we don’t need to pay attention to God’s words of threatening denunciation, his preached word, his appointed authorities, his rules and precepts.

Israel foolishly thought she could defy the living, holy, omnipotent God and win. But Amos reminds these people that God finds conceited complacency contemptible and will condemn it.

Proverbs 8:13 warns, “Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.” God finds such conceited complacency contemptible. Consider the man in Luke 12 who said, “I will build bigger barns,” or the church in Revelation 3:17 that said, “I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing.”

How often we repeat this contemptible folly: “I don’t need the church; I can go it alone.” “I don’t need anyone to hold me accountable.” “I don’t need to pray or take Communion.” “My children will be fine without my consistent presence.” Many have learnt these lessons too late.

Verse 10 presents a pathetic scene of complete household devastation. When asked if anyone survives, the tragic answer is, “No.” The follow-up statement—“Hush! We must not mention the name of the LORD”—reveals a hopeless situation. The people had walked so long out of step with God that there was no liberty to mention his name. God’s act of judgement rendered prayer useless.

What a terrible place to be—too late for hope of a better outcome. Sometimes there is no silver bullet to deliver you. Decisions have consequences; be wise. Do not be complacent.

Amos concludes by highlighting the absurdity of spiritual complacency: “Do horses run on rocks, or does one plough there with oxen?” (v. 12). Of course not. Neither are God’s people designed for living carelessly, conceitedly, and complacently. How absurd to live in defiance of God!

Arrogant conceit has the perverse power to deceive the disobedient that they can escape the consequences of sinful living. Israel boasted in capturing Lo-debar (“nothing”) and Karnaim (an insignificant Syrian city), concluding they could withstand the Assyrian threat. But Amos had news: God would raise up Assyria to oppress them from south to north. They were doomed.

Many approach life and death with the same absurdity—assuming God will overlook their sin or doesn’t exist, or that good works will earn his favour. That is an absurd way to live and an even more insane way to die.

The good news is that God sent his holy Son to live a sinless life, die for rebels, and rise from the dead. He intercedes to save everyone who comes to him trusting him alone for forgiveness. Don’t be complacent about responding to this good news. Don’t be crazy—be converted.

Let us guard our hearts from woeful complacency and live committed to our triune God who has delivered us from the wrath to come.