“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.” – Haggai 1:9
God’s people had endured a long season of working hard without being able to get ahead. Everything they tried turned into nothing. Nothing was ever enough. Money came and went. Every repair was followed by another breakdown. Then God explained why. Their priorities had been wrong for years. They’d been focused more on themselves, their homes, their businesses, and their needs than on God. Their houses were nice while God’s Temple was still in ruins. They’d given God the leftovers of their time, energy, and effort which didn’t amount to much. This was the root of their long season of bitter dissatisfaction.
This can still happen to God’s people today. We may endure long seasons of hard work with little to show for it. We struggle but can’t get ahead. We earn more but the bills increase faster. We may experience years of dissatisfaction and frustration. In those times, it’s helpful to examine our priorities. Are we putting God first in our lives? What does our calendar say about that? What does our bank account say about that? Have we made God’s Kingdom our top priority or our own kingdom?
Jesus promised that if we prioritize God’s Kingdom, seeking it first and pursuing righteousness in our lives, then our basic needs will be taken care of (Matthew 6:33). Are you living your life that way? If you find your self in a long dry season where hard work is mostly turning into dust, spend time talking to God about your priorities. You may discover that you’ve put the wrong person first. #FollowJesus