The prophet Haggai asked a question that is still relevant today:

“Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?” (Haggai 1:4).

In this passage, God is rebuking the people for neglecting his Temple in favor of their own comfort.

Having a nice house is not the problem. The problem is when our priorities are misplaced and we prioritize our own comfort over serving God and His Kingdom.

In the New Testament, the Temple represents either the entire Body of Christ or the individual believer. In either case, God is concerned with the state of His Temple.

It is tempting to focus on our own needs and wants, but as believers, we are called to be servants of God. We are called to put the needs of others above our own and to prioritize God’s work over our own comfort.

Just as the people in Haggai’s time were called to rebuild the physical Temple, we are called to rebuild and serve the spiritual Temple of God.

It’s easy to get caught up in the pursuit of comfort and security, we must remember that our true home is in the Kingdom of God. We are called to live for something greater than ourselves and to serve God and His people.

Let us not neglect the Temple of God, whether it be the body of Christ or our own individual lives.

Let us prioritize serving God and His Kingdom above our own comfort and desires.