Day 37 - Haggai

I love the Minor Prophets because their messages were so specific.  God called each of them to a unique vision and gave them a specific word for the the people to which they were called.  Haggai's call is one that hits close to home for most of us.  Really, it was a word about selfishness.  The people had been wondering if God was really calling them to rebuild the temple, His house.  They'd kind of put that project on the back burner, and God gave this message through Haggai:

1 In the second year of King Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest:



2 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “These people say, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the Lord’s house. ’”


3 Then the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: 4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin? ”

5 Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. 6 You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”

7 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. 8 Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored, ” says the Lord.  (Haggai 1:1-8)

So, you're going to ignore the house of God and the work of God while you enjoy the spoils of luxury?  That's the message God is giving His people.  It's a fitting one for us on Independence Day.  I am so grateful to live in a country and enjoy the freedoms that we enjoy in the USA.  I'm thankful to the men and women who have fought and died and are still fighting and dying so that we might enjoy that freedom.  I never worry that I'll be arrested when I go to church on Sundays.  Freedom is of God because He gave humans freedom in the Garden of Eden.  In the midst of that freedom, we have created a very profitable and comfortable society.  Simply, we have more excess than any culture in the history of humanity.  Materialism and possessions have become our gods.  There's no way around us.  We flock to "the outlets" looking for deals on more stuff we don't need.  We've turned shopping into a hobby, like reading or exercise.  Every commercial on TV is intended to get us to buy something, to convince us that we need something else.  We hoard stuff in our basements and attics.  We throw away food because we don't eat it before it spoils or we just don't like the way it tastes.  And I wonder, would God's message to the Church in America be similar to the way He delivered through Haggai centuries ago?

Church attendance in America is shrinking each year.  Kingdom work struggles financially.  And we keep buying more and more stuff.  Stuff isn't bad.  I don't think that's the message.  I think the message that God is saying through Haggai is simple, "Don't forget what's most important."  There are lots of things that are important to us, and they're different for each person and family.  We have different interests and dreams.  No where are those interests illustrated and given weight more than our finances.  How we spend our money is such a tangible example of what we deem important.  God is telling us not to forget what is most important in our list of important things.  Family is important.  Hobbies and interest are important.  Food is important.  God is most important.  If we are faithful to live into that truth, I believe we can live under the same promise God gave through Haggai in 2:19 "From this day on I will bless you."