Children often get frustrated when activities of theirs don’t seem to succeed for them. They wonder why, and frequently the answer is because they aren’t doing things correctly, they aren’t following instructions, or doing what they were told. All too often we see the same with adults, including Christians. They wonder why their efforts don’t succeed. Our Old Testament Scripture this Second Sunday of Advent comes from the prophet Haggai, and addresses this problem.
Haggai is one of the twelve minor prophets. The term “minor prophet” does not mean that their message was of lesser importance or value. It strictly refers to the size of the book. There are four books referred to as major prophets - Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel. Their books are significantly larger than those of the minor prophets. Little is known of the prophet Haggai’s background. He was a post-exilic prophet, and preached during the time of the building of the second Temple. Haggai 2:3 implies that he may have been around before the destruction of Solomon’s Temple. If that was the case, Haggai would have been a very elderly man at the time of this book, well over 70 years old.
As the book of Haggai opens, the Jewish people had been released from captivity in Babylon, and allowed to return to their homeland. Construction of a new Temple was initially planned, but was not being built. Now the people had become content and complacent about continuing with its building, as they focused now on their own homes and lives (vs. 4). People had misplaced priorities. They were concerned with making sure their careers were right on track, and that their own homes were nicely built. However, God’s house, the Temple, remained in ruins in the center of Jerusalem.
Haggai observed this, and it disturbed him. He knew that it disturbed God. What were the people thinking? He called upon them to look at themselves and to consider their ways (vs. 5). Because of this, God was sending them economic distress (vs. 6). They were working hard, but their wallets were empty, their bank accounts were bleak. Now there wasn’t enough food or drink, and their clothes were getting worn thin. Yet the people were not making any connection between their difficulties and their neglecting of God, so Haggai admonished them to look at what they were doing.
Their selfish lack of concern for God’s house was causing them hardship. Because the people had not given God first place, their work was not fruitful or productive, and their possessions did not satisfy (vs. 6-11). While they concentrated on their own homes, God’s blessings were withheld. The people were more concerned that their own homes were finely built, rather than being concerned that the Temple was built. They were no longer putting God first.
“Consider your ways!” That was a phrase that the prophet used a number of times throughout his book. Look at what you are doing. How does it measure up to what God has told you to do? Look at your heart’s attitude! We need to take note of what we are doing, and amend our ways accordingly. We need to measure our lives against the light and truth of God’s Word.
Neglecting God’s work for our own personal gain will lead to poverty of soul and pocket. We will miss many blessings from God if we focus only on ourselves. We need to be careful of our priorities. By putting God first, He promised that He will be honored in our worship, and will bring His blessings (vs. 8, 13).
If we put God first, He will provide for our needs. If we put Him in any other place, all of our efforts will be futile. Caring only for our needs while ignoring God will lead to ruin. Putting God first in all areas of our life is the secret to obtaining His blessings throughout our life. As the Scripture tells us here, we need to consider our ways.
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