Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

Daily Encouragement for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek

19 September 2024

Reading From Haggai 1-2

“Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes.

“Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the Lord. You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the Lord of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house. Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. And I have called for a drought on the land and the hills, on the grain, the new wine, the oil, on what the ground brings forth, on man and beast, and on all their labors.”

–Haggai 1:4-11

     What a timely prophecy for today.  I am grateful that many prophecies have multiple layers and fulfillments because not only was this delivered to the ancient Israelites and it was exactly what they needed to hear, when they needed to hear it, but it is also so very applicable in today’s modern world.  No matter how much money, material possessions and comforts we accumulate, we are not satisfied. 

     The reason Yahweh gives through Haggai for our lack of fulfillment despite great worldly wealth is that we are selfishly focused on building up riches and a certain lifestyle for ourselves while His house and His work are neglected.  We need God to shake up our priorities and have Him order them rightly.  Our money, time, energy and resources are to be tools to be used rather than hoarded and worshipped.  If our highest priority is to honor God and show our love by our obedience, then everything else will fall into place. 

“Lord, You know how easy it is for us to be distracted, tempted and ensnared with what this world says is important.  But You are to be the sole object of our highest affection and worship.  I pray that we would focus on building Your Kingdom upon the Earth.  I am amazed at how You provide for our every need as we are about Your business.  Shift our eyes from worthless things to things above; that the good deeds You accomplish through us will store up treasure for us in Heaven rather than in this present reality.  Amen.”

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

–Matthew 6:19-21

So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

–Matthew 6:31-34