Haggai 1:6-10

Haggai 1:6 (KJV)

Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.

 

God now brings to them five realities in their lives which they are experiencing because of their lack of refocusing their eyes on the Lord.  First, they have sown much and this would be an agricultural example that they have sown much crop seed but instead of their seed yielding a big crop, it was less than what they planted meaning a loss.  Secondly, God tells them that as much as they eat there will not be any satisfaction.  They will never have enough food and they will always be hungry.  Thirdly, God tells them that they may continually drink and their thirst is never quenched no matter how much water they drink.  Fourthly, God tells them that in the cold temperatures they put on much clothing to keep warm but the clothes they are wearing does not keep them warm in the cold weather.  Fifth, God tells them that they earn wages but instead of the wages bringing a sense of supplied needs, their money runs out fast as if they put the money in a bag that had holes.  This happens to many cheap Christians who refuse to give, they run into all sorts of financial problems and it seems they never have enough money for all the situations that come along.

 

Here are the five realities the Jews faced and also a believer faces for neglecting God:

 

Crop Failure – Deut. 28:38-40

Hunger – Deut. 28:48

Thirst – Deut. 28:48

Cold – Deut. 28:48

Poverty-stricken – Deut. 28:44

 

Haggai 1:7 (KJV)

Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.

 

Now that the Lord has given some realities they are facing in their lives, he once again poses the same command to consider their ways.  Now they have something to reflect upon as God gave them the realities that they would see right in front of them.  Many Christians wonder why they face so much financial turmoil in their lives and all they have to do is look at their giving and involvement patterns and the cause will become clear to them as it should have been to the Israelites.

 

Haggai 1:8 (KJV)

Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the LORD.

 

Here the Lord now instructs them to go to the mountains which may be in Lebanon or Mount Moriah where they will be able to bring back wood for the construction of the temple.  The cedars of Lebanon were very beautiful and would have enhanced the beauty of the temple.  Then after they bring back the wood, they are to build the house or temple of God.  Once they build the temple of God, then sacrifices would once again continue and the Word of God would be preached.  Then when they have built the temple, God would be pleased in the temple and then glory would go to the Lord, then he would accept their sacrifices and offerings once again.  Revelation 4:11 (KJV) Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.   God takes pleasure when he sees us working for the furthering of his kingdom here on earth and that is when he starts blessing the work of the hands of his children. 

 

Haggai 1:9 (KJV)

Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the LORD of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house.

 

The Lord now gives the reality of their situation concerning their neglecting the rebuilding of the temple.  When they planted vineyards or they bought livestock or made investments they had anticipated a return of more than what they had invested.  They expected their crops to yield a big return and also their livestock to increase but the reality was that when there was an accounting done of their goods, they found out that there was much less than their initial investment.  In other words they lost money and there was no increase in their crops.  The blessing of the Lord was not on them because of their neglect of the rebuilding of the temple.   When the Lord said that he blew upon their little returns it means that he scattered it just like when the chaff is separated from the wheat when it is tossed in the air.  They must have asked many questions as to why this happened to them so the Lord answers them and lets them know that because they neglected the house of God which was in disrepair or in a state of ruin and had to be rebuilt.  Instead of them focusing on the temple, they had gone to their own houses to make sure that they were comfortable to live in and made any improvements which increased their comfort.   Instead of seeking the things of the Lord, they were more concerned with their creature comforts.  Is this true about today’s Christian that they are more concerned with creature comforts?  Is that why health and wealth preachers bring in millions because gullible people just want health and prosperity and that is why they almost empty their bank accounts to send it to these frauds?   That simply means they are concerned only for this world and have little or no concern for the advancing of the kingdom of God on earth. 

 

Haggai 1:10 (KJV)

Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit.

 

The Lord then gives them the reality as to why they have not received the blessings from him.  The word “stayed” is from the French word “ester” which carries with it the meanings of stopping or restrained.  The Lord is telling them that since they chose to neglect their responsibilities in rebuilding the temple of God, therefore the Lord has withheld the dews of Heaven and the rains which the crops need to flourish and the livestock need to drink from and simultaneously the earth will not give its increase.  Both of these vital things have been divinely restrained.  It is the same situation with today’s Christian.  Many are suffering numerous setbacks in their life because they have neglected their responsibility to be involved in the great commission?  Going to church once a week or listening to Christian CDs is not involvement but is a diversion from the real issue which is personal participation in some aspect of ministry.  Until a Christian becomes involved God may choose to withhold certain blessings from the life of that Christian.

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