"Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: 'Consider your ways!'" (Haggai 1:5)

The little book of Haggai reveals an interesting part of Israel's history after captivity. Having been taken away into Babylon and freed by the Persians, the Israelites had returned home and began to build themselves nice houses rather than repair the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. God's rebuke through Haggai is simple: "Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?"(1:4). How could the Israelites whose God had delivered them from bondage and blessed them to build nice houses for themselves neglect the things of God? How could they go on without having a place of public worship? God sent Haggai to rebuke His people's misguided priorities. What's more, Haggai's rebuking finger comes through the centuries to our time, admonishing us: "Consider your ways!"

The book of Haggai is a call to self-examination. God repeatedly tells us in His word that we should be constantly scrutinizing our actions, motives, and spiritual state. Paul encouraged the Corinthian brethren to "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?-unless indeed you are disqualified"(2 Cor 13:5). Here is a call to examine and test ourselves and make sure we are living according to the rules God has laid down for us. Is this not a rehashing of Haggai's urging Israel to "Consider your ways"? Solomon instructed us, as sons, "Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; remove your foot from evil"(Prov 4:26-27). The Bible teaches us that we must be a thoughtful people as regards our spiritual state and the road we are on. We must "ponder the path of our feet" so that we can take the path that will lead us in the right direction. Hence we Christians must be considering what we do honestly and with a view to eternity, as God tells us so often to consider our ways. Perhaps if the Hebrew Christians had considered their ways they would have realized that "though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food"(5:12). It is evident that many an experienced Christian is in need of milk because they have not examined their spiritual state and realized their weakness. Let us not be so. Consider your ways!

Haggai also teaches us some important lessons about giving to our God. God says, "You looked for much, but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?' says the Lord of hosts. "Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house"(1:9). Does it astonish you that people could so neglect the house of the Lord while living in paneled houses on beds of comfort? It shouldn't. So many today are blessed by the Lord only to neglect Him-to live in houses of comfort and not darken the door of His house. The Lord is not upset because there is no building nice enough for Him (for He does not dwell in temples made with hands, Acts 17:24) but rather rebukes His people because they are not willing to give back to their God. This attitude is alive and well in our world-and God is still not pleased by it. God wants us to give to Him "not grudgingly or of necessity" but rather He "loves a cheerful giver"(2 Cor 9:7). Let us not begrudge God what He gave us and what is rightfully His. Consider your ways: Are you giving back to God? Your time, your money, your love? Could He say of you that you live in the lap of luxury and His house lies in ruins?

Ultimately, Haggai stresses the necessity of respect for God. While His people had built their houses, God declares that just as one who touched a dead body was unclean in the eyes of the Law, so His people had become unclean in His sight. "Then Haggai answered and said, 'So is this people, and so is this nation before Me,' says the Lord, 'and so is every work of their hands; and what they offer there is unclean'"(Hag 2:14). What could so displease God as to make Him declare His people unclean and unsuitable? A lack of respect for Him and His service. This lack of respect for the Lord and spiritual matters is still repugnant to Him today. Jesus urges us to "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you"(Matt 6:33). This seeking will be apparent-or lacking-in every area of our lives, from our speech and dress to the use of our money. Do we have respect for God? Do we "serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear"(Heb 12:28)? We must be careful lest we become unclean in God's sight. Consider your ways!

To be acceptable to God, we must give Him our all in all areas of our lives. Does He have your all? Let us devote our hearts to God and seek Him in every possible way. Let's grant Him the respect and honor He is due. Consider your ways! ___Jacob Hudgins