It's been over a month since I've posted, and I have so been longing to get going again! This message is extremely pertinent to me and my life. I hope it will be the same for you in some measure. Thanks for taking the time to read this, and I pray you are blessed by it!
Consider your ways and set your mind on what has come to you. You have sown much, but you have reaped little; you eat, but you do not have enough; you drink, but you do not have your fill; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and he who earns wages has earned them to put them in a bag with holes in it. Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways (your previous and present conduct) and how you have fared. Go up to the hill country and bring lumber and rebuild [My] house, and I will take pleasure in it and I will be glorified, says the Lord [by accepting it as done for My glory and by displaying My glory in it]. You looked for much [harvest], and behold, it came to little; and even when you brought that home, I blew it away. Why? says the Lord of hosts. Because of My house, which lies waste while you yourselves run each man to his own house [eager to build and adorn it].
Haggai 1:5-9 AMP
Many times in my life I have been guilty of putting myself before God; I have thought my needs and my desires were more important than God's desires. I know I'm not the only one. Many in this world today spend most of their time thinking or doing those things that will get them a bigger or better job, make more money, provide more exotic vacations, get them a new car, get them noticed by others, make them better than their neighbor, get them a bigger or better house, and the list goes on and on... It's the norm in our society, and it is what is taught as success in many of our homes, our schools, our lectures, and even some of our pulpits.
The thought of putting God's desires and plans first is extremely foreign to many, if not most. Yet, as believers, we are told to first seek God's Kingdom and His Righteousness, and all of those needs and desires we have will be taken care of. God's ways are not man's ways. He does not do things the way man says to do them. His ways are not unattainable, but they are relational. In order to know His ways and to walk in His ways, we must know Him. We must walk in a living, constant, personal, and active relationship with Him, and He must be Lord, the One in control.
Spiritually speaking, our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. We are God's house. Yet, we are often just like the people were in Haggai's time. They were busy going about their own business, building their physical homes, their bank accounts, and their importance in society, all the while forsaking the very One Who makes it possible for them to have a home, a bank account, and a place in society. It's as if we think, "Boy, look at me!!!! I'm something now! Look at what I've done!!!"
We spend time planning for our futures, worrying about the economy, and fretting over wars and rumors of wars. We have time to eat, sleep, exercise, watch TV, play, entertain, and do absolutely nothing. We don't, however, have time nor care to take the time to read the Word, study the Word, pray, worship, praise, tithe, or go to church. We spend all of our time "building" our physical homes and all the "bling" that goes with it, all the while completely neglecting the house of God within us.
Now, listen, I'm not talking about unbelievers. I'm talking about those of us who call ourselves "Christian." We're all that, but can't seem to understand we're neglecting the very One Who makes us "all that." I believe that the word of the Lord to us today is: Consider your ways and how you have fared!
Scriptures for reference and study: Haggai 1:5-9; Matthew 6:33; Isaiah 55:8; 1 Corinthians 6:19; Deuteronomy 8:18; 1 John 2:16; Luke 17:21
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