Putting God First
(See also "Love grown Cold")
Hag 1:5-6,9 Hag 1:9-10
Overview
Haggai was a prophet who spoke to the tiny Jewish community, which had settled again in the Promised Land after the Babylonian Captivity.
His message was a reminder of the importance to; Put God First
God’s words through Haggai: "Give careful thought to your ways. (understand what is important) & (live for what is important)
The two short chapters of Haggai contain four important messages from the prophet to the people.
1st He called on the people to rebuild the Temple,
2nd to remain faithful to God’s promises,
3rd to be holy and enjoy God’s great provisions,
4th and to keep their hope set on the coming of the MESSIAH and the establishment of His kingdom.
They came from Bondage to Barrenness
Some 50,000 people returned to Judah from Babylon. They settled in a tiny portion of the Jews’ ancient heritage, centered on Jerusalem. There they found their once-fertile lands ruined. What had once been forested was stripped of its trees and grasses.
What had been fertile cropland was now wilderness. In addition, the little remnant, struggling to clear its land, was met with a series of natural disasters. There were droughts and storms. Crops planted in hope were harvested in despair, as not even seed was recovered.
It was this situation that the Prophet Haggai preached to a people who had gathered in Jerusalem for a religious festival.
The cause of their dilemma was, their priorities were mixed up.
Hag 1:5-6,9
Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it...
"You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?" declares the Lord Almighty. "Because of My house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house."
The people had returned to Judah in 538 B.C., some 16 years before Haggai first spoke out. They had come with the specific intention of rebuilding the ruined temple of their God. The people had quickly laid the foundation of the temple, but then enthusiasm had faded.
Why had their intentions faded, because their priorities were mixed up
For over a decade work on the temple had been abandoned, and even the funds they had brought with them for the building program were spent on a futile effort to make the little community self-sufficient.
Their efforts shifted to preparing houses to live in, and to clearing fields so crops might grow.
Haggai’s message was a call to recommitment.
It was an explanation of dashed hopes, for through Haggai the Lord now explained what had been happening.
Hag 1:9-10
"You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?" declares the Lord Almighty. "Because of My house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house. Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops."
You have to be willing to sacrifice if you’re going to be blessed!
You have to put God first! You have to show God you love Him! Give to God first, even when it’s a sacrifice. And then, yes then, God will bless you.
"Neglected Foundations of the temple"
The foundations of Judah’s commitment had been laid, and that God withheld blessing because the people had not carried through on their commitment. They had been distracted by the "cares of life" and had not put God first.
IMPORTANCE OF A FOUNDATION
A very short man wanted to drive a nail in his wall to hang a picture. He stood on a chair, but it was not high enough. His wife placed a box on the chair, but he was still short of his goal. So a stool was piled on top of the box. Balancing himself precariously, the do-it-yourself picture hanger began to tap timidly with his hammer. "Why don’t you hit it hard?" asked the wife. "You’ll never drive the nail that way!"
Our hero looked down from his perch to reply, "How can a man hit anything hard on a shaky foundation like this?"
Have the foundations of any special commitment to God been laid in own lives - foundations on which have not built upon, while we go about other business?
1. BUILD UPON THE FOUNDATION WITH FAITH
Faith in God brings peace of mind and heart because we know that we belong to him, and we know that one day all pain and suffering will end.
Faith is inviting God’s Holy Spirit to live within us. It is not just an act of the mind, but it taps us into the very resources of God so that we have the power to live in an entirely new way. If God himself is living within us, our lives should be dramatically changed.
Many people in the Bible whom we consider to be "pillars of faith" had moments of doubt. The key is to never give up on our faith and to always ask if, over time, our lives have been moving closer to or further away from God. Even during moments of doubt, you must invest the effort and discipline to allow your faith to grow.
2. BUILD UPON YOUR SPIRITUAL FOUNDATION WITH ENTHUSIASM
The only thing in life achieved without effort is failure.
The worst bankrupt in the world is the man who has lost his enthusiasm.
H. W. Arnold
A man can succeed at almost anything for which he has unlimited enthusiasm.
Charles M. Schwab (1862-1939)
Enthusiasm is the element of success in everything. It is the light that leads and the strength that lifts men on and up in the great struggles of scientific pursuits and of professional labor. It robs endurance of difficulty and makes pleasure of duty.
Bishop Doane (1832-1913)
3. BUILD UPON YOUR SPIRITUAL FOUNDATION BY HAVING THE RIGHT PRIORITIES
How do I know what’s really important?
Prov 3:5-6 . . . Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths. (NLT)
Putting God first is the most important thing we can do. If all of your priorities focus on doing things for yourself, they are misguided.
How do I set priorities?
Deut 10:12-13 . . . what does the LORD your God require of you? He requires you to fear him, to live according to his will, to love and worship him with all your heart and soul, and to obey the LORD’s commands . . . (NLT)
What happens when we fail to set priorities?
Judg 17:6 In those days Israel had no king, so the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes. (NLT)
When we fail to set priorities, we will stop doing what is right in God’s eyes.
4. Build upon your spiritual foundation with COMMITMENT
Today, Christianity seems to be less a matter of commitment and more a matter of convenience
Guidance means I can count on God. Commitment means God can count on me.
A Christian without commitment is like a promise made with your fingers crossed.
5. Many can be interested in Gods will, but He is seeking a total commitment from us.
Once a chicken and a pig took a trip together. After many miles and many hours on the road, they got hungry. Finally, the sharp-eyed chicken spotted a restaurant. Approaching the door they read a sign which said, "Ham and Eggs: Our Specialty!" "Hold it!" shouted the pig. "What’s the matter?" asked the chicken. "Plenty. All they want from you is a contribution. They are asking me for total commitment!" (Mark 8:35)
There’s a difference between interest and commitment.
When you are interested in doing something, you do it only when circumstances permit.
When you’re committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results.
6. Example of a solid spiritual Foundation
Paul:
The words of a veteran who built his life in the foundation of Christ He experienced extreme hardship, trials, and Setbacks. He spoke with confidence from knowing Christ Personally
Rom 8:27-28 NKJV
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
2 Tim 1:11-12 NKJV
12 For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.
When we have built on the Lord as are foundation we can follow the 4 messages of Haggai
1st We are called on to build the Kingdom of God
2nd We are called to remain faithful to God’s promises,
3rd We are called to be holy and enjoy God’s great provisions,
4th and to keep their hope set on the coming of the MESSIAH and the establishment of His kingdom.
Close in prayer, thanking God for His willingness not only to supply what we need to finish building, but also His gracious willingness to bless us as we are obedient to Him.
