Reading… and Thinking

This is what the LORD Almighty says: “These people say, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the LORD’s house.’ ” Then the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai: “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin? ” Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. … You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the LORD Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house.”

— Haggai 1:2-5, 9 (NIV)

When the exiles first returned from Babylon under the leadership of Zerubbabel the governor and Joshua the high priest, they immediately laid the foundations of the new temple. But then opposition arose from the surrounding peoples, and the enemies successfully got the work stopped. Eventually, the political situation in Persia changed again, and there was no longer a barrier to resuming the work. But they didn’t do it. The prophets Haggai and Zechariah were sent at this time, to get them going again.

What Haggai said to the people is a lesson that we can take for ourselves. The question is: What comes first in your life? Making your own life comfortable, or serving the Lord?

The Jews were building their own houses, and putting off work on the Lord’s house. What was the result of “taking care of #1″? The Lord frustrated their attempts to provide for themselves. The more they worked for their own benefit, the greater their hardship. The Lord threw down a challenge. He said, “Put me to the test. Take care of my house first, and see if I don’t bless you! See if you don’t end up in better shape than if you’re taking care of yourself!”

Who is better able to provide good things for us? Ourselves, or the Lord? Clearly, God can do more for us than we can possibly do for ourselves! But we forget this. Like the Jews of Haggai’s time, we think we have to take care of ourselves.

God does not promise us wealth. But He does promise to take care of us:

• “I will never fail you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)
• “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ … Your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:31-33)
• “Give, and it will be given you.” (Luke 6:38)
• “In all things God works for the good of those who love him.” (Romans 8:28)

So what comes first? God’s house! That is, worshipping Him, proclaiming Him, taking care of His people. If these things are first in our lives, the rest will be abundantly taken care of by the God who delights to care for us, when we are doing His will.