Bible Reading: Haggai 1, 2; Revelation 17.
Memory Verse: “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.” Haggai 1:9 (KJV).
God is good at all times and that includes when he chastises. He corrects to ensure people will change their ways and move in the right direction. In our passage today, it was observed that the people of Judah were working hard but not making enough to meet their needs. Sometimes, when they make enough, they find out that other things take them away such that what appeared enough before later becomes insufficient! God spoke to their prophet, in Haggai 1:6 (KJV), “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.”
God told prophet Haggai that He was not happy with the people because they neglected htim. They had become so self centered that all they considered was about themselves. He said his house had been desolate whereas the people built decent houses for themselves. In order to draw their attention to Himself, God sent them a devourer and said this to the prophet in Haggai 1:9 (KJV), “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.”
Examine your life. Are you experiencing devourers? This includes laboring so much and getting little or sometimes getting so much only for them to be spent on other challenges such as sicknesses, losses and accidents amongst others. If so, you need to check your relationship with God. Are you living a life pleasing to Him or a very sinful life? Are you giving Him enough attention in your time and even resources. Giving part of your resources to him includes taking care of the needy around you. Proverbs 19:17 (KJV) says, “He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord ; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.”
Sometimes God allows devourer in your finances in order to draw your attention to him as is the case with Judah in our reading passage for today. In such a case all that is needed is repentance and He will cause things to change for the better because He wishes above all things that you prosper and be in health ( 3 John 2). Generally, to avoid the wrath of God, you need to live a life of obedience to Him in addition to caring for the needy around you.
Action Point: Examine your life if you are living to please God. If not amend your ways today!
Bro. Biodun Oyapero