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The final three books of the Old Testament, beginning here with Haggai, are known as the "post-exile" books because their messages are addressed to those returning from exile in Babylon. Having had Jerusalem totally leveled by the Babylonian army, the city is nearly gone. A few Jewish settlers (mostly the poor) remained in the area, but for the most part the city's commerce and activity was nearly ground to a halt.
The exiled people coming back to Jerusalem wasted no time in restoring the most important thing in their lives - God's Temple. But delays and distractions soon undermine the people's work on the Temple, setting the stage for Haggai to appear with a new word from the Lord. In four brief but powerful messages, Haggai exhorts the people to put first. things first. With renewed courage and commitment, the citizens respond by completing the Temple, as well as clearing a place in their hearts for God.
Setting Priorities Straight!
It's been said, "If you aim at nothing, you'll hit it every time." However, the people of Jerusalem were laser focused on putting God first in their lives and in making every attempt to rebuild their beloved Temple. In fact, in spite of extreme opposition from surrounding nations, other people groups, and even from a few of their own citizens, they made it their number one priority and built it back to use in record time!
It's amazing what you can accomplish when you're laser focused on a particular goal. When it becomes your passion, no opposition will keep you from accomplishing it. If it's your number one priority and you couple that with passion to get it done, it will happen.
However, God had to use Haggai to get them motivated to get the task done. Consider what God said to them in 1:3-6 - "Then the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?” Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. 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.” This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. 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. “You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house."
God had to se their priorities straight! The had put themselves first before God. They were busy building their own houses and neglected the Temple, the place of worship.
God Desires To Be First In Your Life!
God must take first place in our lives over everything and everyone! It was Jesus who said in Matthew 6:33 - "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
This is exactly what God is telling them. He said that He was blessing them, but He limited the blessings due to the fact that they were more "self-focused" than "God-focused." He basically was telling them, "Yes, I'm blessing you, but NOT like I want to! If you want me to really bless you with abundance, set your priorities straight and focus on putting me first in all that you do.
Look carefully at what God says about this in Haggai 1:5-10..."This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you! You have planted much but harvest little. You eat but are not satisfied. You drink but are still thirsty. You put on clothes but cannot keep warm. Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes!...Why? Because my house lies in ruins, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, while all of you are busy building your own fine houses. It’s because of you that the heavens withhold the dew and the earth produces no crops."
- They plant a lot, but receive very little harvest.
- They eat food, but are hungry.
- They drink, but are thirsty.
- They have clothes, but NOT enough to keep them warm!
And He tells them why! Because they have set themselves first BEFORE God!!!!
In fact, He reminds them again in 2:18-19 that if they want the blessings of God to fall in abundance, they must put Him first in their lives.
Are you putting God first place in all you do? Is He your passion? Is allowing His Holy Spirit to accomplish something amazing in and through you your highest goal? If not, seek His forgiveness today! And put Him first in all you do!
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