Do you ever wonder why you work so hard and gain so little? Have you ever wondered why there seems to be a hole in your pocket and your money just disappears? Why won't the money stretch to the end of the month?
It could be that our priorities are not in line with God's priorities.
After a day where many of us spent too much on ourselves and our families, CVC's Bible Reading plan has us in Haggai. In ancient Israel, the temple needed to be rebuilt. But it lay in ruins. God's people were focused on their own comforts rather than God's kingdom. Haggai, the prophet, was sent by God to call the people of God to repent.
I see at least 5 principles in Haggai 1.
1. It's not ever the right time to pursue personal comforts over kingdom priorities.
"Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house [the temple of God] lies in ruins?" v. 4
2. Consider why you might be working so hard and gettinge ahead so little.
"Consider your ways. You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes... You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the LORD of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house." vv. 5b-6, 9
3. Decide to invest financially in what matters most.
"Consider your ways. Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the LORD." vv. 7b-8.
4. Turn your intentions to give into actions of generosity.
"Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God..." v. 12a.
5. Expect God to be present to bless your generosity.
"Then Haggai, the messenger of the LORD, spoke to the people with the LORD's message, 'I am with you, declares the LORD.' And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people. And they came and worked on the house of the LORD of hosts, their God..." vv. 13-14.
An amazing thing happens when we get our priorities right. Jesus said in Matthew 6:33 that when we seek Him and His kingdom first, He will add to us the food, clothing, and shelter that we need. He takes care of us like He cares for the birds in the air and the lilies of the fields. To use Haggai,s imagery, God plugs up the holes in our pockets. He increases our harvest. He doesn't blow our resources away. Instead, He supplies all our needs.
So, today - the day after we probably spent too much on "me, myself, and mine" - might be day for us to write some big checks to support the Lord's work.
And then we can watch God do for us what we can't do for ourselves: build His church for His glory AND stretch our money to the end of the month... and beyond.
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