Haggai was a prophet to the Jews who had returned from exile in Babylon. The Persians had allowed them to return home in order to build a temple to the Lord (Ezra 1:1-4). But some years later, largely because of local opposition, they still had not built the temple. The work had stalled, and the people were instead tending to their own personal concerns.
This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,” says the LORD. “You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the LORD Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house.
Haggai 1:7-9 NIV
And God, through Haggai, challenged them in this passage to think carefully about their ways. The house of God was in ruins while their own homes were in order. Now there is nothing wrong with having a nice home that is in order. Unless getting it, and keeping it, causes you to neglect your service to the Lord. And when I neglect that service, should I expect that God will bless my life?
Building the Temple Today
God’s temple today is not a physical structure; it is the body of Christ built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ as the cornerstone (Eph. 2:20-22). And that body of Christ is revealed wherever God’s people assemble together in His name.
But the principle we find here in Haggai is still true. Where are my priorities? If I prioritize investing my time and resources in myself and my family, and the Lord gets what is left over, can I expect God’s blessing in my life? Should I be surprised when things don’t work out the way that I expected?
Investing in building up the house of God, His Church, will not go unrewarded. It may not result in earthly riches. But it will be remembered when we stand before our Lord on that day (Matt. 25:21).
