HAGGAI

               "Then the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai: 'Is it a time for you yourselves  to be living in your paneled houses while this house remains a ruin?' "     (Haggai 1: 3,4   NIV)

Old city wall, Jerusalem

     The prophet Haggai wrote this brief book of the Bible to give God's people a message from the Almighty: "Stop concentrating on your material possessions and start working on the restoration of the temple of God.  Stop putting me at the bottom of your priority lists!"  (my paraphrase).  In Haggai's day, God's chosen people had returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple.  But, true to human nature, they became sidetracked with family, social gatherings, careers, life. Fifty years passes, and God's temple still lay in ruins.  The Lord was angry and spoke of it through Haggai.
     Haggai 1:9 continues the message: "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 in ruins, while each of you is busy with his own house."
  

Haggai, templeinstitute.com

     The Lord spoke to one man - Haggai.  And Haggai spoke to some of the older men... men who could still remember what the  old temple looked like before its destruction.These men then motivated others, and the people began rebuilding the temple 23 days after Haggai's first message from God.  The completed the foundation within 3 months.  And, God immediately blessed them. Haggai 2:9 states the blessing from God:
 "The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house... And in this place I will grant peace.."  God is so good;  even though we disappoint Him frequently, He blesses us when we obey.  (He could have waited until the temple was completed, but He sent His blessings when just the foundation was done.).
  

        Speaking of foundations, that is the whole point of the book of Haggai. God wants to be the foundation of our lives.  He wants to be number one. He deserves to be the foundation of our every decision, every action, every reaction.  And then we will experience the blessings in our temples - which are our renewed lives and minds through Christ the Messiah.  Haggai was "just one little man". But look what a difference one person can make.
     Hundreds of years later, the apostle Paul wrote a letter to Timothy, encouraging him to always do his best for the Lord.  Paul's message remains appropriate for each of us today.  Give God your best. Allow Him to shape you into an excellent worker as you seek to please Him.  Make Him the foundation of all that you do: "Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: 'The Lord knows those who are his, and, everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.'  In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble.  If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work."  (II Timothy 2:19-21  NIV)
     Is God your foundation?