Fool's Gold Part 3 Series

Introduction

During the Sermon on the Mount Jesus makes this statement to his followers. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21). Then further along in Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus tells us the first and greatest commandment is that you are to love the Lord the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. (Matthew 22:37)

And what Jesus is saying when you put those two Scriptures together you get that He ought to be your treasure. He ought to more valuable than anything else in your life. He ought to be more valuable than the wealth that you have saved; He ought to be more valuable than the job you love; and he ought to be more valuable than the possessions that you own. He ought to be your treasure.

But I am afraid that many Christians do not know how to live with Christ as their treasure. They do not know how to live with Jesus Christ as the priority of their life.

So, in today’s sermon, I want to share with you what it looks like if Jesus Christ is indeed your treasure. To do that, I am going to take you to an Old Testament book that is seldom preached from. It is the Book of Haggai. It is the second shortest book of the Old Testament. It was written for the people of that day that said God is first in their life, but they did not live like it. It reminds me of our day and time. There are a whole lot of people in our day saying God is first in their life, but they are not living it. Let us see what God told them because He may be telling you and me the same thing.

Scripture

Haggai 1:1–9 (NKJV)

The Command to Build God’s House

1 In the second year of King Darius, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, saying, 2 “Thus speaks the Lord of hosts, saying: ‘This people says, “The time has not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built.” ’ ”

3 Then the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying, 4 “Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?” 5 Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways!

6 “You have sown much, and bring in little;

You eat, but do not have enough;

You drink, but you are not filled with drink;

You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm;

And he who earns wages,

Earns wages to put into a bag with holes.”

7 Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways! 8 Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified,” says the Lord. 9 “You looked for much, but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?” says the Lord of hosts. “Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house.

Point #1

Listen to yourself! When it comes to God and the things of God, do you find yourself making excuses. Excuses are an indication that God is not your treasure.

2 “Thus speaks the Lord of hosts, saying: ‘This people says, “The time has not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built.”’”

3 Then the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying, 4 “Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?”

Picture what is happening here. The people have returned to Israel after their capacity in Babylon. They have settled in; they have rebuilt their homes and are comfortable. But when the discussion gets around to rebuilding the temple, they make the excuse that it is time yet.

God confronts them through the prophet Haggai. You are comfortable in your houses, but my house is in ruin, and you keep making excuses. You keep makes excuses that it is not time.

Think about our day and time: few people come to know Christ because God’s people make the excuse I cannot speak to others about Christ.

Sunday services in many churches are empty because people make excuses why they cannot be there.

Sunday school classes and vacation bible school classes are teacher-less but Christian men and women make the excuse that I cannot do that.

We seem to ignore that Scripture that says I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13).