Scripture: Haggai 1 v 5 - 10: "Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.
6 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.
7 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.
8 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.
9 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.
10 Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit."
When we became Christians it was because we were bought back out of Satan's clutches by the most costly ransom ever paid, the Blood of Jesus. God made us, He lost us, He bought us back, He owns us and everything we possess is His too.
We dedicate our lives, homes, business, children to Him. Freely. This means we willingly give up our rights to anything and we actually own nothing. This may come as a surprise but its the truth. In return we have maximum protection at no cost.
Psalm 127 v 1: "A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain."
We have eternal salvation in a mansion in Heaven built by Jesus. We have healing, deliverance, abundant life, joy, peace, love, freely given. However, the Lord says, Consider your ways!
Having received the peace that passes all our understanding, and freedom from oppression, what do we need to do to please the Lord and show Him our gratitude?
He asks that we build Him a house. Because His house is in ruins. In the Old Testament the Temple Solomon built was destroyed by the Babylonians in the time of Daniel and Jeremiah. And through the prophet Haggai, God is saying that He allowed their currency to become worthless because they were building their own lovely homes but neglecting His house.
Here in South Africa our newly exchanged Minister of Finance is giving a budget speech today. No matter how pretty his words may be the economic problems here are severe and there is a major lack of confidence for the immediate future. We have problems with corruption, fraud, state capture, looting the public purse, low tax revenue, state owned enterprises wallowing in bankruptcy and draining all resources. Good investors are running away, bad investors are taking advantage. It's a mess.
A little known reason could be one of the main factors. South Africa has shut the door on Israel and closed its embassy. To please all those who hate Israel and want to see Israel wiped off the face of the Earth. Israel has done wonderful miracles in rebuilding the fallow ground in a time span of just 70 years, and are ready, willing, but not yet able to rebuild the ruined Temple.
Consider your ways South Africa, when you looked for much it came back little because the God you rejected, and the chosen people of God you kicked to the curb, are bringing your government, finances, future prospects into a frightening scenario. Unless the Lord watches over the city or country your watchmen watch in vain.
Donald Trump is hugely persecuted for his support for Israel, and God has blessed the USA with lower taxes, more jobs and yesterday a huge turn out for him and his Republicans in Texas, while ex pres Obama held a blue wave Democrat meeting that was described as a puddle with a handful of people supporting him. His attitude to Israel is also dismal.
Let us consider our ways in building a spiritual house that is the unified Body of Christ. This house, when completed, will herald the soon return of Jesus and the Rapture. Support those who are working for this unity, who give it direction and pour out their lives to see it happen. Discern between the genuine, meek, committed believers and those who are in it for glitz, glamour, entertainment and luxury.
As we bless those financially who are most deserving so the Lord will bless the givers. Luke 6 v 38: "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again."
Malachi 3 v 10 - 12: "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.
12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts."
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we can never out give You for You give a hundred fold return. No bank or lending house can match Your rate of return. Forgive us for neglecting those who give their all for Your sake, who are the true builders of the invisible Body of Christ made without hands. Let us consider our ways Lord and bless them for the joy of seeing Your soon return. In Jesus' name. Amen.
