Haggai 1:5-6 Now therefore thus says the Lord of Hosts; Consider your ways. You have sown much, and bring in little; you eat, but you have not enough; you drink but you are not filled with drink; you clothe yourselves, but there is none warm; and he who earns wages earns wages to put it into a bag with holes.
While we eagerly study the Words of the Major Prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, and the others, many overlook those of the Minor Prophets. In the times we are now living, the Words of the Minor Prophets are unquestionably profound.
Twice in the first seven verses of the Book of Haggai, the Holy Spirit tells the people to, Consider your ways. When God repeats Himself he does so that we may pay attention to what He is about to tell us. He is also very good to display the same picture and make the same point, by describing the circumstances with different words.
Verses 7-9 He repeats Himself but uses a different scenario. Thus says the Lord of Hosts; Consider your ways. Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, says the Lord. You looked for much, and lo, it came to little; and when you brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? Says the Lord of Hosts. Because of My House that is waste, and you run every man unto his own house.
Here we see God speaking the same message in verses 7-9 as He did in verses 5-6. He begins both times with, Consider your ways. He then goes on to reveal the consequences of such actions. It seems that no matter how hard they work or what they do, they don't get ahead. This is an accurate description of the Body of Christ today.
Two popular sayings in regard to this come to mind: “The faster I go, the behinder I get.” and “I feel like I am running on a squirrel wheel; getting nowhere fast.”
God will not bless that which is done with the wrong motive, and any motive not in line with His Word is wrong. He makes this very clear in this Passage of Scripture. There is no satisfaction in anything except working for the Kingdom of God. All our activities and the money we spend on frivolous things is a waste of time and money, and will one day burn up.
Many people are working longer hours but at the end of the month, they have less money. They are serving on every committee at church and volunteering for everything they can, and yet no one is getting saved, healed, or delivered. They have spent years spinning their wheels as fast as they can and have gotten nowhere, just like a hampster in a wheel cage.
If you feel this way, take to heart the Lord’s Words: Consider your ways. Seek the Lord for direction and correction. Many times we find ourselves doing the same thing over and over. Seeing no results, we work harder and go faster to no avail. How can this happen? God gives us the answer right here through the Words of the Minor Prophet, Haggai. Because of My House that is waste, and you run every man unto his own house.
We are far more interested in building our own house than the House of God. We seek to increase our personal empire and kingdom and give little consideration to the Kingdom of God. This attitude and lifestyle in God’s people is a part of the reason America is in the condition it is in today.
Consider your ways. Don’t consider the ways of someone else. Consider YOUR ways. This matter is between you and God. Seek correction of the Holy Spirit; He will grant you this request and redirect your ways. Lamentations 5:21 Turn us back to You, O Lord, and we will be restored; Only God can cause us to turn back to Him.
Only God can……..turn the tide
Seeking God and considering my ways, Doreen
www.bettsministries.org
