Have you ever gotten your priorities out of whack? You know, you’re working hard on hobbies, but ignoring school projects? You’re dedicated to a sport, but falling behind on summer reading? You’re having fun going places with friends, but you’re taking too much time off from your job? From time to time, all of us have to be reminded to get our priorities straight. Serving God is a priority. Are we serving? Are we giving?
When they stopped working on the temple, God spoke to His people through the prophet Haggai:
“Is it a time for you to live in your paneled houses, while MY HOUSE LIES IN RUINS?… Think carefully about your ways. You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You put on clothes but never have enough to get warm. The wage earner puts his wages into a bag filled with holes. The Lord of Hosts says this: ‘Think carefully about your ways.’” Haggai 1:4-7.
What was the problem? The people were busy working on their own houses, but were neglecting the house of God. Yet, He had sent them home to Jerusalem specifically to rebuild the temple. So what did God do? He made their efforts fall short. The crops were too little, food too scarce, clothes too thin, and they lost money through holes in their pockets. God understood. He knew they found the new temple underwhelming.
But God said, “Work! For I am with you!” Haggai 2:4.
I pray often that God will not let my wages fall through a bag filled with holes. My struggles cause me to “think carefully about my ways.” What am I doing for the Lord—or NOT doing?
Sometimes you need to do an inventory. To THINK CAREFULLY ABOUT YOUR WAYS. Are your priorities straight? Are you serving, obeying, giving? If everything in your life falls short—if no matter what you do, it’s never enough—then do an inventory. Think carefully about your ways, and obey Him. And remember to WORK! For He is with you!
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Household Words: 