Rich Get Richer-NOT!

Now that is a phase that can challenge anyone. The rich get richer but the poor get poorer.
Hosea tells Israel that they are a luxuriant vine producing lots of fruit but, that is where the problem begins. Yes, they are "getting richer", yes they have more but it is those very things that have taken them further away from God. They have made more alters (places away from God to worship) and they have become faithless. Instead of seeing their success as coming from God they begin to see this as the works for their hands.

To often (but not always) this is what happens in our society today. I remember hearing the story of a conversation between a wealthy man and the country farmer. The country farmer was asked what else he would need to bring satisfaction to his life. He said, "I live off the land and what God provides for me and my family I have no other needs." The rich man was asked the same question, his reply was "MORE".

When we look to ourselves, there is never enough. The Lord was telling Israel that they have been looking to themselves and the result has been they have turned away from Him. He will break their alters.

Hos 10:1-2
10 Israel is a luxuriant vine;
He produces fruit for himself.
The more his fruit,
The more altars he made;
The richer his land,
The better he made the sacred pillars.
2 Their heart is faithless;
Now they must bear their guilt.
The Lord will break down their altars
And destroy their sacred pillars.
NASU

Let your heart be broken so that God can heal!

Explore for yourself.

How does God describe Israel?
What is the consequence of the fruit produced? How should this bring caution to our lives?
What happens when the heart goes astray?