CONSIDER YOUR WAYS
“Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways! You have sown much, and bring in little; you eat, but you are not satisfied; you drink, but your thirst is not quenched; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warmed; and he who earns wages, earns wages to put into a bag with holes. Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways!” Haggai 1:5-7
Haggai challenges the restored remnant from Babylonian captivity, whose desire was to seek their own welfare, to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem that stood is ruins for many years.
I. “Consider your ways!” in relation to the work of the Lord:
It is very unwise to place your own self-interests ahead of God.
"Thus speaks the Lord of hosts, saying: ’This people says, The time is not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built." Haggai 1:2
II. “Consider your ways!” in view of the futility of your labors:
The Christian whose life is empty, seemingly without meaning or purpose, constantly striving but never able to "make ends meet" should evaluate their degree of dedication of service and substance to God. Review the text printed above and see if any of these character-istics are evidenced in your life, than consider what God has in store for those who put Him ahead of their own selfish interests.
"But seek the first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." Matthew 6:33
III. “Consider your ways!” in view of the work to be done:
“Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified, saith the Lord.” Haggai 1:8
Christianity is not a spectator sport! Every child of God is given a gift. "There are diversities of gifts, but the same Holy Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord…But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills." I Corinthians 12:4-5,11
IV. “Consider your ways!” in view of blessings to be received:
If “the heavens above you withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its fruit”, when you ignore God, does not it stand to reason the opposite would be true if you honored, reverenced and served Him?
