What House are You Building?

Sunday, 16 October 2022 by

Bernard Gabbott - Sunday, 16 October 2022

What House are You Building?

Haggai turns to the leaders of God’s people, and states the excuse God’s people have for not building God’s house, the Temple: ‘It is just inconvenient, and not the right time’’ (vs.2). It’s not as if God’s people doubt His importance, or the significance of the symbolism of the Temple, do they? And, as we will see, the circumstances are tough: there has been prolonged drought, crops have failed consistently, finances are tight, and the local political opposition is quite fierce. Haggai then turns to God’s people, though, and points out the problem: ‘Your houses look pretty fine, but God’s house is in ruins. Your priorities are exposed by your personal lives’ (vs.3-4). It is an incisive and exposing statement. And it is not so much a statement about the city-planning of Jerusalem, but a statement about how God’s people view the significance of God, the significance of His desire and promise to live with them, and the significance of sin. In their paneled houses, these people make a statement: God is not that important! Such a 2022 book for God’s people…

Scripture References: Haggai 1:1-15, Deuteronomy 28:1-6, Deuteronomy 28:15-19, Matthew 6:25-34

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