Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Ten Things I Learned from Haggai

I read the little book of Haggai recently and thought I'd share some observations.

v. 1:9 You look for much, but behold, it comes to little; when you bring it home, I blow it away. Why?” declares the Lord of hosts, “Because of My house which lies desolate, while each of you runs to his own house.

1. I spend too much time tending to my own house and need to focus more on tending to God's.

v. 1:5-6 “Consider your ways! You have sown much, but harvest little; you eat, but there is not enough to be satisfied; you drink, but there is not enough to become drunk; you put on clothing, but no one is warm enough; and he who earns, earns wages to put into a purse with holes.”

2. When I feel depressed and nothing seems to be going right, I need to take a close look at my life and ask these questions...Where have I disobeyed God? What areas of His work have I neglected? What has stood in the way of my serving Him (materialism, busyness, worry, etc)? In what ways have I compromised my full devotion to God?

v. 1:7-8 Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Consider your ways! Go up to the mountains, bring wood and rebuild the temple, that I may be pleased with it and be glorified,” says the Lord.

3. When I'm discouraged and feeling unmotivated, I need to be obedient anyway - just do it and seek God to equip me to do His work.

4. Obedience seems difficult, but it is only doing what I should.

5. Obedience always requires prioritization of God's wishes and often requires subduing my own preferences.

v. 1:14 So the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and worked on the house of the Lord of hosts, their God.

6. Obedience is not only trying, but doing.

7. Obedience is a sign of genuine heart change.

8. Fear of the "impossibilities" of life hinders my willingness to obey.

9. Loyalty and faithfulness to God is more important than my thinking it can't be done.

10. If God calls me, He will equip me.

Blessings,