FRIDAY February 10, 2017
A Repetitive Rebuke
“You have sown much, and bring in little; you eat, but do not have enough; You drink, but you are not filled with drink; You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and he who earns wages, earns wages to putinto a bag with holes.” - Haggai 1:6
Notice, God’s people were working all day long but their bank accounts were empty. The more they spent on themselves the less they had. Imagine that––a bag with holes. Why? God let them know the reason; the whole thing was their priorities. They were neglecting the work of God. The Lord instructed His people in what they should do and then stopped to repeat the same repetitive rebuke:
Thus says the Lordof hosts: “Consider your ways! Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified,” says the Lord(Haggai 1:7-8).
For the Lord to be honored and glorified the people needed to have the right priorities. What about the Church today? Are we, as God’s people placing Him first on the list of our priorities? So many people earn and spend so much money but in the end they say their money is gone. They do not understand where it has all disappeared to. They have money to eat but it is barely enough to cover all the bills. Perhaps in some cases families are spending above their needs? Instead of overspending do we know how to be content?
Seriously, we need to rethink our priorities and place God first even in our finances. Every person needs to consider if they are being obedient in tithing to the Lord. The Lord promises to maintain us (Malachi 3:10). Otherwise, if we choose not to be obedient in our giving, the faster we earn our wages the faster it will disappear.
….for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.
~Philippians 4:11~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit Somebodylovesyouradio.org!
