Psalms 97-100; Ezra 4:1-5, 24; Haggai 1:1-2:23

Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. 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.” (Haggai 1:5-6)

Does that describe me? Am I always trying and falling short of what I want? Is my focus on being comfortable, worshiping God when it’s convenient, obeying Him when it benefits me?

God, through the prophet Haggai, tells us to give careful thought to our ways. Are we as intent on building God’s House, His Church, as we are of building ourselves up? If we feel unsuccessful or dissatisfied in life or in ministry, we need to ask ourselves, for whom am I working?

God tells us in verses 9-10 that our failures come at His hand, our efforts result in ruin because God withholds His blessing.

I hope you worship today in a church filled with believers in Jesus. I hope you aren’t there to fellowship, or have a cup of coffee, or because it’s convenient. I hope you are there to worship God at great cost to yourself. I pray you will empty yourself, and allow God’s will be accomplished in and through you. I pray that when you leave that building you are ready to get out there and build God’s House according to His blueprint.

Let’s give careful thought to our ways.