Hag 1:1 In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, saying, Hag 1:2 Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the LORD'S house should be built. Hag 1:3 Then came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet, saying, Hag 1:4 Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste?
We need challenged to pick up the burden for the work of God and move forward. We also need challenged to examine our priorities. It is easy to let legitimate things crowd out our time and energy for the work of God. The people to whom this passage was originally addressed had met much opposition and difficulty in their work. Yet, they were without excuse for their neglect. The difficulty of the work at hand is no excuse - This is God’s Work!! It is the most important thing in the world!! It is the salvation of souls and the saving of lives from destruction. It is the preserving and advancing of society. It is the only source of good in this dark world. It is the only hope our society, our country and our world has to avert disaster. Too often we fail to show the importance of God’s work in our choices in life. Let’s take an honest look at ourselves. What are we focused on? What are we giving our lives and energy to? In light of the needs around us, do our choices and priorities make sense? May God help us to be focused on what God is focused on.