CONSIDER YOUR WAYS
A prominent person, I believe it was Henry Ford, is reputed to have said, "history is bunk". Why he said that, I can’t think, because if we don’t learn from the mistakes of the past, we’re sure to repeat them. That’s the story of the world and is especially true for the Christian. A large part of the Scriptures is the historical account of God’s people, Israel, often falling away from God because they neglected to learn the lessons of previous generations. History is really "His-story" - that’s "God’s Story".
The Old Testament prophets often gave their listeners "a wake up call" when they were in danger of neglecting their God. The minor prophet Haggai is a good example. Here’s a snapshot of the scene 2,500 years ago when he made an impassioned plea to the nation of Judah to "give careful thought to your ways" (1:5,7). In other words he was saying "watch your step, be careful, watch it!" The nation at that time had become disobedient to God’s commands. The people had stubbornly resisted warnings sounded by several prophets and inevitably God’s punishment had come. The means that God used was the Babylonian army that swept over the land, ravaging its cities and Jerusalem in particular. The temple was plundered and partly destroyed, its treasures being carried away to Babylon. It was the policy of the conquering nation to keep their conquest in subjection by deporting the educated and business classes, leaving only the peasantry, leaderless and in utter poverty.
For seventy long years the people suffered captivity and began to learn the hard way, lessons they had failed to learn in their homeland. In the goodness of God a new ruler arose who authorised the exiled Jews to return to their own land and to rebuild the temple. But what a forbidding sight that greeted them on their return to the beloved city! The Babylonian army had used a "scorched earth" policy. Everything of value had been torched and left to decay for seventy years. You can get a picture of the scene by recalling what happened when the Nazis invaded Russia or the Russian army fought to regain control of Chechnya.
The returning exiles from Babylon had a commendable spirit and they enthusiastically set to work. The focal point of their worship of Jehovah, the altar, was soon rebuilt, a restoration fund opened and a dedication service held. So far so good and in fact all might have gone well had it not been what Haggai called the "people of the land" (2:4). These were the peasantry who had been allowed to remain in Judah while the bulk of the nation was exiled. This remnant had never had their heart in the faith of their forefathers. It’s been well said, "God has his children but no grandchildren". Faith in God isn’t something passed on automatically from one generation to another. Of course, God is willing to accept all that come to him in repentance and faith, but there must be a response to his call. He won’t force himself on anyone.
These "people of the land" had done nothing for the worship of God in the intervening years. And now they were a positive hindrance to the returning exiles. They at least had a spark of faith in Jehovah or otherwise they would have never made the four-month journey across the desert back from Babylon to their homeland. But such is human nature that the returnees soon allowed themselves to be overcome by the taunts of their jealous neighbours and discouraged by natural hardships. Their enthusiasm for the restoration work in the temple soon evaporated, and the reconstruction programme came to a halt.
What are we to make of this story? The apostle Paul tells his readers that the events recorded in Scripture are to be regarded as examples for our instruction and to prevent us from making the same mistakes (1 Cor 10:6). The apostle James compares the word of God to a mirror where we see a picture of ourselves. It’s not a matter of comparing ourselves with those we read about in Scripture but rather to learn from their experience. Let’s take a closer look at what Haggai made of the situation. The chapter heading is "A Call to Build the House of the Lord." That’s history, but it’s recorded as a parable for today’s Christians in building God’s Kingdom.
Haggai’s message is summed up in three words, "consider your ways." "Wait a moment, listen to me," Haggai tells his countrymen, "there’s something gone wrong in your relationship with God, and I’m going to reveal the insight that God has given to me." "Consider your ways": the instruction is to think long and hard about our motives and actions, and the consequences that flow from them. Haggai’s word from the Lord can be summarised in three questions. The first is:
"WHAT ARE YOUR PRIORITIES?"
"This people say, ’The time is not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built’" (1:2). "This people" says Haggai, referring of course to the Jews, were not worthy to be called God’s people because they had estranged themselves from their God through disobedience. They knew perfectly well what they should have done. Their attitude reminds me of St Augustine. He knew the way of salvation from his Godly mother but he enjoyed his worldly pleasures to much to leave them. He is quoted as saying before he became a Christian, "God help me to do good - but not yet."
"The time is not come," said the disobedient Jews, but they’d been back in their homeland for 16 years and yet the temple, the focal point of their religion, still lay in ruins. They were occupied in the fields for their own benefit. Their thinking was like this: the crops might suffer and they might be the losers if they came in from the fields to the city to concentrate on the unpaid work of rebuilding the sanctuary. But the true reason for their attitude was their apathetic indifference to the claims of God. The temple was his dwelling place but they just weren’t interested. How easy it’s to become complacent, to lose our vision and passion for the things of God. There are times when we must stop and ask, "Where are my priorities? How much time do I set aside for the Lord and his work? What proportion of my income is offered to him?"
The plea that the time hadn’t arrived to serve God was very feeble and merely a cover for putting off what should have been a priority in their activities, but is that attitude in evidence today? The student may claim that studies must have first priority and the Lord’s service can wait until after graduation and finding a job. The businessman may argue that the stress and strain of business life are such that he can’t afford time and energy for the Lord’s work. In fact everyone, young or old can find excuses for not working in God’s Kingdom. Of course, our intentions are good. We mean to do our share - but not yet. One day we will detach ourselves from our present pressing commitments and fulfil our responsibilities to the Master - but the time has not yet come. Isn’t it really a matter of balancing priorities?
Time is a very valuable commodity, something that will have to be accounted for at the Judgement Seat of Christ. If we haven’t used our time wisely, it will then be too late to make the excuse "the time has not yet come." If we wait for the perfect opportunity of serving God, it will never come. It’s unwillingness, not want of time, or even opposition, which hinders the progress of God’s work. There’s no suitable time to those who aren’t interested. Every time is suitable to those who are in line with God’s wishes.
"What are your priorities?" That’s the word from the Lord through the lips of Haggai. We must consciously work out our priorities in life. The years go by so quickly. Believe me, as you get older, the years seem to get shorter! But I ask you and myself: what are we doing with our remaining years? It’s so easy to be like butterflies, flitting from one opportunity to the next - without a pattern. Some Christians experience a lot but achieve little. The Christian discipleship to which God calls us is all about priorities and decisions. It means saying "No" to this and "Yes" to that and maximising our service for the Kingdom in this our short and uncertain earthly life and pilgrimage.
The people of Judah had given the feeble excuse "the time is not yet come" but Haggai takes their words and throws them back in a question, "You say ’the time is not yet come,’ but let me ask you a question. "Is it time for you, yourselves, to dwell in your panelled houses, while this my house lies desolate?" (4). The argument that the people used to justify their position is used against them. It was 16 years since the restoration work had been suspended. Yet, the people hadn’t been idle - at least in looking after their own comforts. Jehovah challenged their inconsistency. While the temple still lay in ruins, they had found time to build their own luxurious homes. Haggai makes a contrast between "the Lord’s house" and "your houses"! They couldn’t find resources to rebuild God’s house but they still could find sufficient for their own dwellings. They were focussed only on their own worldly needs.
But worse than that, they weren’t content with modest buildings. Rather they insisted on having their homes ornamentally lined with timber, a sign of luxury and expense for the sake of it. Their houses were a contrast to the stone foundations of the Lord’s house, unfinished and weather beaten by exposure to the elements during the last 16 years since the attempt was first made to rebuild. This was more than neglect. They were robbing God of his dues. The apostle Paul registered the same complaint in writing to the Philippians: "For all look after their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ" (2:21). This attitude must sadden our Lord. He doesn’t require what we can’t give but when his people get their priorities right it must bring him joy and gladden the hearts of those who see it in action.
One of my favourite authors, A J Cronin - those of a certain age will remember him as the writer of "Dr Finlay’s Casebook" - writes of visiting a village in Italy which had almost been destroyed in World War II. He felt so pessimistic at seeing the ruins that he asked two villagers, "Why don’t you leave the village? Here there’s so much destruction." But the villagers shook their heads and said, "This is our home. We don’t think it is finished." As they moved away it appeared they exchanged a secret glance that provoked Cronin’s curiosity. He saw them about their work in the mornings, but what did they do in the afternoons? He followed them out of the village down to the dry riverbed. To his surprise he saw them picking up stones and carrying them to the site of a new and better church. It was their first united act. They gave Cronin a quick, faint smile, as though to say, "Are we finished then, after all?" This was the quality that Haggai would have rejoiced to see. It’s the devotion that God still looks for in his people.
Haggai didn’t get much response so he was inspired to challenge the people with a second question:
"WHY ARE YOU IMPOVERISHED?"
His words are penetrating: "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" (6). The returned exiles had worked hard but their strenuous efforts for prosperity had proved a failure. Why was this? There’s a cause and effect in our relationship with God. Jim Elliott, a colleague of Nate Saint, the missionary martyr to the Auca Indians, wrote some wise words: "No one ever gains by trying to cheat God. He makes a fool’s bargain bartering a real good for a perishable trifle, and losing at last even what he has gained."
The Jews had sown plentifully but the harvests were poor. Inflation had drained the buying power of their money. Haggai told them the reason: it was the chastening hand of God at work, telling them of his divine displeasure of their conduct. What appear to be natural causes in our lives must be examined to see if they contain a spiritual lesson to be learned. "Consider your ways," God was telling them, but they didn’t seem to get the message. John Calvin wrote: "God punishes men in two ways - by withdrawing his blessing and also by preventing the things provided giving satisfaction." The last thing that the Christian should do is to lose his or her joy but it can easily happen if we allow even good things to have priority over the best, that is, the will of God.
Haggai’s message urges us to take stock, to "Give careful thought to your ways" - but is that enough? No, it will only be useful if it results in action. Haggai had to ask bluntly:
"WHEN WILL YOU DO SOMETHING?"
Haggai’s short, sharp message had made an impact, for he then instructed the people what to do. "Go up to the mountain and bring wood and build the house, and I will take pleasure in it and be glorified, says Jehovah" (8). The time for talking was over; action was now required. There’s a well-known book on revival, entitled, "In the day of thy power". It’s taken from Psalm 110:3. The complete verse reads, "Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power." That’s the answer. Willingness, not to do great things, but willingness to do what’s pleasing to God.
The people of Judah were told to "Go and rebuild." They would find their lost blessing where they had lost it. The same principle applies in our lives. God directs us back to where we’ve lost contact with him. It may be in our Bible reading and prayer or in honouring him with our possessions. For the people of Judah it was to rebuild God’s house - and they set to it. Haggai tells us: "The whole remnant of the people obeyed the voice of the Lord their God and the message of the prophet" (12).
Did you notice it was the "whole remnant" that said "Yes, we’ll go and rebuild?" It wasn’t only the priests - the professionals - but all the believing community. If we apply this principle to the Christian era, then it’s clear that all Christians are called to mission. Not just on Sundays, but living for God on Monday to Saturday as well. We’re all in God’s "full-time service".
The restored relationship of the people to their God was confirmed by his words: "I am with you, says Jehovah" (13). Only a few words, but what an assurance of strength and power. The people had made a commitment but they weren’t left alone to carry it out. The work was Jehovah’s and he provided the necessary supplies and equipment. From now on they were going, to use the words of Jesus, "to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness" (Matt 6:33) and other things would fall correctly in their place. Christianity is not about ritual but relationship. It’s “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col 1:27).
Restoration of once dilapidated buildings is very much to the fore as people discover the value of their heritage. Spiritual restoration is a recurring theme in Scripture. It’s God passionate desire to restore what has been ravaged by neglect and backsliding. The New testament challenges Christians: “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God” (1 Cor 6:19). Haggai conveys God’s plea to his people, “Rebuilt the temple, that I may be pleased with it and glorified” (1:8).
"Consider your ways," said Haggai 2,500 years ago, but it’s relevant today. Don’t let’s fall into the trap of old and say, "The time is not yet." The Word of God is clear, "Now is the time … go and rebuild." The outcome of obedience is certain - a new and abiding assurance of God’s presence, "I am with you." But as ever, the choice is ours.
