Coming Home to Freedom: Is your wallet full of holes?

Devotional: Haggai 1:1-15
Haggai is this incredibly beautiful book that most of us just skip over. It is a book in which the people of Israel are encouraged to get back to rebuilding the temple.  The people had been discouraged by obstacles that had gotten in the way and building the temple just was no longer a priority to them.  Then on three dates, September 15th, October 17th, and December 18th 520 BC, God sends the prophet Haggai with a message to the people, "Get back to work!"

The people had been excusing the delay saying it just wasn't the right time.  And God responds through the prophet, "Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?"  God basically goes on to say that the people care more for themselves than they care for God. They would rather use their money for their own needs than to honor God.  "Give careful thought to your ways," God warns, "You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it."

In the side panel of the Serendipity Bible the question is asked, "How has God spoken to you about your financial priorities and spending habits?"  Which begs the question, Have you ever asked God what your financial priorities and spending habits should be?

Look around your home. Pull up your credit card statement. Check out the mileage and GPS on your car.  How would God order these differently?  What would God have to say about your spending and saving habits?  Do you trust God or are you relying entirely on yourself?  Do you spend in ways that bring God joy or displeasure?  Are you generous in your care of others?  Whose money is it anyways?

The great commandments are simple.  1. There is only one God.  2. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. 3. Love your neighbor as yourself. (Mark 12:28-31)

In the book of Haggai the suggestion is being made that the reason we don't have enough for our own needs is because we are not fulfilling these great commandments - and our pocketbook or bank statement proves it.

"Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Joshua son of Jehozadak [not the spy], the high priest, and the whole remnant of the people obeyed the voice of the LORD their God and the message of the prophet Haggai, because the LORD their God had sent him. And the people feared the LORD."  God's Spirit than stirred up the people and motivated them to work on the house of the Lord.

Prayer: Oh mighty and gracious God, show us the way to live including how to use the money You have blessed us with. Amen.

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