Consider Your Ways!

Reading:  Haggai 1-3
My Verse:  (1:6,7)  "You have sown much, but you have reaped little; you eat, but you do not have enough; you drink, but you do not have your fill; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and he who earns wages has earned them to put them in a  bag with holes in it.  Thus says the Lord of Hosts; Consider your ways (your previous and present conduct) and how you have fared."

Even though the Israelites had an edict from Cyrus king of Persia to rebuild the temple on their return to Jerusalem, the people ran into problems and so reasoned with themselves that now was not the time.  Instead they devoted themselves to tending to their own affairs and building their own houses. ". . . you yourselves run each man to his own house [eager to build and adorn it]." (1:9)  Lord, You even point blank ask them, "Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses while this house [of the Lord] lies in ruins?  Now therefore thus says the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways and set your mind on what has come to you." (1:4,5)

You appeal over and over to them to think about what they are doing and why they are not being blessed in what they are doing.  This is so familiar.  We do the very same thing as they did.  We get caught up in "doing"  for ourselves.  Instead of seeking to bring glory to You, we seek to bring glory to ourselves.  Lord, forgive me for the many times I have taken my eyes off of You.

You remind the people, "For thus says the Lord of hosts, Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake and make tremble the [starry] heavens, the earth, the sea, and the dry land;" (2:6)  "The silver is mine and the gold is mine, says the Lord of Hosts." (2:8)  How I need to keep things in perspective.  You are the Lord GOD and all that exists belongs to You. We each of us will stand face to face with You one day.  Oh Lord, I pray that on that day I will be able to stand before You joyfully.

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!