Spiritual Priorities
The prophet Haggai was sent to deliver a message to God's people that is still very important today. The people were experiencing God's punishment because they did not make the work of the Lord a priority. They built their own homes, instead of building God's house. (Haggai 1:9) This made God very angry, so that He caused them to lack money and other necessities. They still did not get the message until Haggai came to them.
Today, we see the same thing happening with the church. Many people fail to give their tithes and offerings, because they are buying houses and cars and all kinds of things for themselves and leaving off the work of the Lord. Then, they work hard to keep up the payments on these things, but they find it almost impossible, because God blows their money away. This is His way of showing His displeasure with our lack of spiritual priorities.
However, when we do support His work as a priority, He blesses what we do have to make it go even farther. That is the grace of God toward us when we are obedient children. I would encourage all of us to trust God by putting Him and His work first in everything. Then, watch to see what He does.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Zechariah 1-3.
Today, we see the same thing happening with the church. Many people fail to give their tithes and offerings, because they are buying houses and cars and all kinds of things for themselves and leaving off the work of the Lord. Then, they work hard to keep up the payments on these things, but they find it almost impossible, because God blows their money away. This is His way of showing His displeasure with our lack of spiritual priorities.
However, when we do support His work as a priority, He blesses what we do have to make it go even farther. That is the grace of God toward us when we are obedient children. I would encourage all of us to trust God by putting Him and His work first in everything. Then, watch to see what He does.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Zechariah 1-3.