Sometimes when you are reading through the scripture you will come across a short passage that really makes you think. This happened to me recently when reading through the book of Haggai. A short three verse passage really hit me and caused me to think about having the right priority when serving God.
Haggai 1:4–7 (ESV)
4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? 5 Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. 6 You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes.
7 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways.
Haggai 1:4-7 (NLT)
4 “Why are you living in luxurious houses while my house lies in ruins? 5 This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you! 6 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!
7 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you!
God was not displeased that the people worked on their house or even had a nice house. His displeasure was focused on the fact that they gave higher priority and put more care into building their own houses than they did in building the house of their Lord.
This applies to the ways in which we are living our lives today. What do we give priority to? Our own personal wants and desires or those of the Lord? It’s not that God does not want us to ever do anything for ourselves but His will should always be our first priority. To align with the Bible we must put the desires of God before our own.
This is definitely no profound thought but I do hope it will cause you to think about where your focus is. Christians must not make it their priority to build up their own life and by doing so neglect the things of God. We must always prioritize serving God and doing the work He has called us each to do.
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