Then the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying, “Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?” – Haggai 1:3-4

REFERENCE
Haggai 1:1-8

 

Background: Haggai was sent with a message for the Jews that returned from captivity in Babylon. When they first came back to Jerusalem, they started rebuilding the destroyed temple of God but later stopped it for 14 years. In those years of the temple’s neglect, they went about their businesses, amassed wealth, built well-paneled houses, and planted vineyards, while the temple rotted away.

Meanwhile, as well as they thought they were doing, they were oblivious to the fact that they were not getting as much results as they should on their investments or efforts in life and business. So, Haggai got them to have a rethink. He said, “Consider your ways…You have sown much, and bring in little…” They were doing well, but could have done better if they had put God, His work, His house and their relationship with Him first.

Today, many of us have the same attitude as these returned Jewish exiles; we are careless about the things of God, the fire on our altars is dying, our commitment to God is waning, we default in our giving to God, our church attendance is becoming infrequent, and our excuse is that, ‘God understands.’ Exactly the phrase a cab driver used recently, when a Christian lady asked why he missed his church service. He claimed he had to ‘hustle’ for money to meet his financial obligations and that God understands his reason. But does God really? And even if He does, does the adversary, the devil – who goes around ‘seeking’ whom he may devour – understand?

 

We are blinded by the fact that in spite of our neglect of the things of God and of our ‘convenient’ commitment to Him, we are still doing relatively well…life is good. But is that all there is to life? Is life just about things that can be had or bought? Who knows if life could have been better. Perhaps, there are superior things we should have but don’t and are not aware of, because it seems life is good. There may be peace eluding us, favor not accessible, better opportunities or more impactful living, that we know nothing about, just because we have made God the One who gets our leftover time.

It took Haggai to make the Jews see that they were missing so much by their nonchalant attitude. This morning, God is trying to get your attention. So, I call you to consider your ways in the light of your relationship with God. Consider your prayer life, your study of the word, giving to His work, how you obey His instructions and what service you are rendering to Him. Remember, you will never be shortchanged by serving God.

Don’t be blinded by the seeming glamour around you, let today be a day of self-appraisal – CONSIDER YOUR WAYS!

SCRIPTURE PHOTOS

 

ADDITIONAL STUDY
Isaiah 48:18-19, Matthew 6:33 & Luke 12:13-21.

 

PRAYER POINTS
Ask God to strengthen your weak hands and make firm your feeble knees in the areas of your spiritual laxity.

Pray that the zeal for the Lord’s house will consume you; and you will experience a revival in your walk with God.

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on WhatsApp Share As a Mail