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).
Listen to yourself- when it comes to the things of God, do you find yourself making excuses?
Point #2
Look at yourself! God says you see the things that I see, and you do nothing about them. Your selfishness tells me I am not your treasure.
Haggai 1:3–4 (NKJV)
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?”
If you are selfish with your time, your energy, and your money then that ought to be an indication to you that God is not your priority.
In the days of Haggai, the people returned home after a day of work and came back home to their paneled homes, but Gd had no temple. It was in ruin. How can you sit at home, and the Lord have no temple to dwell in? You are selfish. You are your own treasure; and I am not.
Think about today, is there something not being done at the church, and you have done nothing about meeting that need? Do you know a brother or a sister in Christ that has a need whether it be prayer, or some type of assistance and you have done nothing about it. Is there a neighbor or friend that you know needs Jesus Christ as their Lord, and you have done nothing about it.
Remember the two greatest commandments: love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and mind and the second commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself.
Look at yourself! Do you see things that you know God would want done, and you have done nothing about them? It is an indictment that Jesus is not your priority.
Point #3
Consider your Ways! If you feel like you are spinning your wheels and getting nowhere quickly, it may be because you have not chosen to make God that priority that He needs to be in your life.
Haggai 1:6–9 (NKJV)
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.
Listen to me! There is a way to live your live and fighting against God is not it. God vs your excuses; God versus your selfishness, you lose every time.
These people in the days of Haggai had their excuses when it came to rebuilding God’s temple- it is not time. They acted selfishly when they refused to go to the mountain and bring down the wood. I need to worry about me and my family and earning a living for them.
And what does God say: “I blew it away.” That certainly sounds to me like God’s people can fight against God.
Have you considered your ways? Are you fighting against God?
Something to Ponder
Do not miss God’s blessing in your life by making excuses and acting selfishly.
You do not want to be in a fight with God?
This invitation is the time to evaluate what is going on in your life.
