Devotional Journal: Reflection on Haggai chapter 1
Attitude towards what we do for God and what we do for ourselves can have dramatic effects depending on our mindset and actions. He who provides is the same one who gives the power to enjoy what is given. All that we have and the ability to obtain comes from God. It’s easy to forget this truth and have a “self-made” mentality.
We must not forget that He can easily take away joy and fulfillment when we are fixated on obtaining without thanksgiving. The same can be said when we may not have much physically but filled with much spiritually. Contentment does not mean that you limit yourself from obtaining more. The meaning of contentment is maximizing your blessings with an attitude of thanksgiving towards God who gave those blessings. Contentment is not found in the things given but in the Giver.
An example of Neglecting God can be found in the book of Haggai chapter 1. The people were blessed with nice homes and possessions but were disobedient by not building God’s temple. Curses were brought upon them because of this “Me first” mentality. What was planted should have become fruitful, but it resulted in a small harvest. Abundance was turned into wanting and their possessions were not secure.
Lord, may I not forget your Kingdom first. You are my Provider. All that I have is a blessing. May I forever be thankful and offer you praise all the days of my life. In Jesus name Amen.
1 In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came by the hand of Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest: 2 “Thus says the LORD of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the LORD.” 3 Then the word of the LORD came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, 4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? 5 Now, therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways. 6 You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes.
7 “Thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways. 8 Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the LORD. 9 You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the LORD of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house. 10 Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. 11 And I have called for a drought on the land and the hills, on the grain, the new wine, the oil, on what the ground brings forth, on man and beast, and on all their labors.” - Haggai 1:1-11 ESV
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2016. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
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