The Time God's People Had Their Priorities Wrong

The message of Haggai.

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Haggai was one of the three prophets who prophesied to the Jewish people after they returned from captivity. The other two were Zechariah and Malachi.

Many of the other “Minor Prophets” that addressed the nations of Israel and Judah dealt with the nation’s sin of idolatry – but captivity had “cured” the Jews of idolatry. Haggai confronted a different problem in the nation.

Haggai’s Message to the Jews.

They allowed the rebuilding of the temple to go by the wayside while they focused on growing their own wealth and improving their houses. They made the excuse, “The time for rebuilding the LORD’s temple has not yet come” (Haggai 1:2).

While they lived in luxury and comfort, the temple remained in ruins. God sent Haggai to address their misplaced priorities.

Then the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying, “Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?” Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: “Consider your ways!” (Haggai 1:3-5)

They had focused on improving their homes and growing their wealth while the temple still lay unfinished.

What About Us Today?

The temple of God today is the Lord’s body - the church (Ephesians 1:22-23) - which is made up of individual Christians (1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 6:18-20).

Do we see a lack of focus on strengthening and “rebuilding” the church because “the time for rebuilding the temple of the Lord has not yet come?”

But we’re so busy! Now’s just not a good time - let’s wait until later to help one another grow in Christ (2 Peter 3:18). Let’s wait until a better time to reach the lost with the gospel (Mark 16:15-16). Let’s wait until another time to deal with sin in the church (1 Corinthians 5).

What would God say to us when it seems we may have lost sight of our proper priority as much as those Jews who returned from captivity?

I imagine it would be something like “Consider your ways!”