The prophet Haggai wrote concerning the children of Israel, “Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes” (Haggai 1:6).
The Israelites were apparently working hard but not gaining very much. What was it that prevented them from prospering according to their efforts?
Back in verse 2, the Israelites declared that even though the temple of the Lord needed repair, now was not the time to do it. They were too busy taking care of their own homes to worry about the house of the Lord. But God rebuked them for this attitude in saying, “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your ceiled houses, while this house lieth waste” (1:4)?
Too often Christians today put off doing the work of the Lord because they think their family obligations cannot wait. Sometimes taking care of the church building is put off because everyone is too tired from working at their secular jobs all week. Visits cannot be made because there are chores to do around the house.
We seem to forget the words of Christ who said, “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26-27).
Taking care of our family and work obligations are very important but certainly not more important than the work that our God gives us to do. Our lives should revolve around service to God not service to home.
In Christ, Steve Preston
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#dedication, #devotion, #piety, #priorities
