In the Book of Haggai, God urged the people to consider their ways and take care of His house. He reflects on how the returned captives had worked hard but found no satisfaction in what they had sown. No matter how much they ate or drank, or how well they dressed, joy was still lacking until the temple was rebuilt.
God declared that if a drought occurred, it would be because of the neglect of His house. Just like today, many people are too busy taking care of their own houses to attend the House of God or show love for God and His followers. We must remember that neutrality doesn’t exist in this universe; we must choose which path to walk down – attending to our own needs or paying attention to the Lord’s interests first.
These words point us toward an important truth: if we don’t make time for God’s work, then He won’t make time for us when we need Him most. Many sinners are waiting for our visitation and many younger ones are awaiting our caring presence; yet we find ourselves making excuses more often than not. When the Day of Judgement comes, it will be difficult to answer Jesus with certainty after having neglected His callings so many times before. The day is coming when we stand face to face with Christ and answer for everything we have done.
The lack of increase in some parts may be due less to external circumstances and more to our personal choices such as unawareness or unwillingness to help others in need – whether related or unrelated by blood – and lead them to salvation from sin instead of putting our own interests above God’s Kingdom.
As such, there is a reminder within these words not only for us but also for those who have been led astray; let us never forget that neglecting God’s Word will eventually catch up with each and every one of us when it matters most.
The message from the Book of Haggai is a reminder to prioritize the Lord’s interests in our lives, as it is only then that we will find true satisfaction and fulfillment. We must take care of God’s House for His satisfaction, and in doing so, we will be blessed with the increase we seek.