Creator, Father, King #160

Why are you living in luxurious houses while my house lies in ruins?

PRIORITIES.

They are so important in life, but so often neglected. The Old Testament book of Haggai is about proper spiritual priorities.

In 538 BC, after overthrowing the Babylonian Empire a year earlier, Persian King Cyrus issued a remarkable decree that any Jew wishing to return to Jerusalem to rebuild God’s Temple could do so.

Under Zerubbabel, a civic leader, and Joshua, the high priest, the initial returnees started rebuilding their lives, their homes, and God’s Temple amid the rubble left behind by Babylon’s former conquest. But intense persecution from local adversaries halted Temple reconstruction for sixteen years (Ezra 4). While the Temple languished in ruins, the people constructed nice houses to live in, replanted farms, and built vineyards.

They didn’t have their priorities in order.

Through the prophet Haggai, God called the people to reprioritize their lives around him, not their personal desires of comfort and wealth. In 520 BC, God confronted Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the returned exiles with a piercing question: “Why are you living in luxurious houses while my house lies in ruins?” (today’s verse).

“Now go up into the hills, bring down timber, and rebuild my house. Then I will take pleasure in it and be honored,” God said (Haggai 1:8).

What’s It Mean?

Prioritizing God and worshiping him were vital to Israel’s well-being. The same is true for us today.

All Christians would agree that putting God first in our lives is crucial. But it’s easier said than done. Sadly, we often allow selfishness, sinful desires, and life’s busyness to crowd God out of the picture.

So how do we prioritize God? Here are some questions to consider:

• Are you spending daily time in prayer and God’s Word?
• Do you faithfully worship at a gospel-centered church?
• Are you currently being discipled and/or discipling others?
• Do you actively use your spiritual gifts to serve others and build the church?
• Are you actively looking for ways to share your faith and fulfill the great commission?

This is not a complete list by any means. But it’s a good start. Don’t shelter yourself in a luxurious home of self-centeredness and allow God to remain homeless (so to speak) in your life. Give him the glory and honor—and priority—he deserves!

Now What?

Schedule your daily devotions at the beginning of each day. It’s a great way to say, God, before anything else distracts me, you come first.

Did You Know?

The Jews completed the Temple construction in 516 BC. Herod the Great significantly expanded it and the surrounding complex starting about 20 BC.