Haggai 1:4-5

“Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses while this house lies desolate?” Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts, “Consider your ways!^[1]

The time in which Haggai wrote was an economically difficult time for the Jews who had returned to Jerusalem. The majority of the people struggled to make ends meet every day, but there was a small few who had put resources aside that enabled them to live extravagant lives. It seems it is to this minority that Haggai was writing because they were much more concerned about their beautifully appointed homes than the house of God. Their demonstrated priorities were especially egregious to Haggai considering the covenantal faithfulness God had bestowed giving them favor with Darius who allowed them to return to Jerusalem for the express purpose of rebuilding the temple.

It is apparent that the more times change the more they remain the same. People are not much different today than they were in Haggai’s day. Many are still pursuing their own agendas exclusive of what God would have them do. If we are honest, we must include ourselves in that number. How often have we thought it much more important to work toward fulfilling our dreams than walking obedient to God’s will and direction for our lives?

Isn’t interesting that our behavior is not a surprise to God? The Psalmist writes, “Delight yourself in the LORD; and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He will do it” (Psalm 37:4). Jesus, our risen Lord and King taught in the Sermon on the Mount, “But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). So clearly, God, who knows the end from the beginning, knew our proclivity to put our individual wants and desires before what He requires. Though it is difficult in a society that places great emphasis on personal achievement, our faith in God requires that we trust and believe that He will do for us just what He said He would do. After all, isn’t that what faith is, “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1)? Today, let us endeavor to activate our faith with greater intentionality.

Dear Lord, I am guilty of placing my wants and desires before your will for my life. I can sometimes become so fixated with what I want to accomplish that I can neither see nor hear what You have in store for me. Help me today to believe more strongly and completely that You have my best interest in mind and that delight in You will bring me all I desire. But keep me from making You just the bearer of good gifts. Allow me to walk in such obedience that all I desire will be Your good and perfect will for my life. So, today I surrender everything I am and hope to be to You. Mold and fashion me after Your will, in Jesus’ marvelous name I pray. Amen.

^[1] New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Hag 1:4–5.