AP

Haggai 1:1:5-6   Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways.  You have planted much, but harvested little.  You eat, but never have enough.  You drink, but never have your fill. Y ou put on clothes, but are not warm.  You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”

Because of God’s gracious and miraculous intervention on behalf of the exiled Jews in Babylon, they had returned to their homeland and had been re-established in the City of Jerusalem.  However, they were so occupied enjoying all the blessings of their new-found freedom and opportunities for economic independence and growth that they had little time to reflect on the One who had so blessed them.  They built their homes, planted and harvested their crops, rejoiced in their children and families … but neglected the worship of their God who so graciously made all these things possible;

How upset they had been when the LORD’s Temple had been destroyed 70 years earlier, but now the rebuilding of it was given a low priority on the list of things to be done.  In his great kindness, God had attempted to draw their attention to their sin by exercising his sovereign rule over the weather and the economy to withhold his hand of blessing on their crops, their industry and their general comfort.  They should have been sensitive to these gentle rebukes, particularly if they gave but a moment’s reflection on the way their forefathers had been so graciously cared for during the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness on their way from Egypt to the Promised Land when “they lacked nothing, their clothes did not wear out nor did their feet become swollen” (Nehemiah 9:21).  But NO!  It was necessary for him to send the faithful prophet Haggai to open their eyes to the obvious.

Sadly, this all has a very familiar ring to it for us.  We live in a society greatly blessed by God’s gracious provision: freedom, homes, jobs, natural resources, beaches, mild weather, and material luxuries.  Are we acknowledging and thanking the giver of these things?  How important and ‘non-negotiable’ is the regular time we allocate to spending with him, worshipping him, reflecting on his Word?

Do Haggai’s ancient words challenge us today as we consider the current failing economic climate and see ‘holes appearing in our purses’?  Are we so deceived by all the very subjective, easily-manipulated ‘science’ of climate change that we are blind and deaf to God’s gracious warnings in what we refer to as ‘natural disasters’, instead of humbling ourselves and crying out to our Sovereign God in repentance-and-faith that he might show us mercy and grace?

Should we rather be discovering the importance of Jesus’ warning about getting the right perspective on life: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33)?

– Bruce Christian