Have you ever had “one of those days”? The kind where you wonder why you are working yourself to death, spinning your wheels, falling into bed bone tired, only to realize how little you actually got accomplished that day? Do you feel overwhelmed with all that you have to get done? Is it never enough? Are you never satisfied with all that you DO have?
In Haggai 1:5-7 it reads “5 Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.7 Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.”
Why do you think God mentions in verses 5 and 7 to consider your ways? This word ‘consider’ means to set your heart on something and really ponder. Think right now about all the things you do on a daily basis, or maybe even a weekly basis. Now answer a simple question for each item: “Why do I do this?” Maybe even make a physical list…List each and every item that causes stress, takes time from your day, or makes you feel frustrated. Then, out beside each item, list your reason for doing that thing. You may find when you simply take time to ponder why you do the things that fill up your life, that many of those you busy yourself with are unnecessary and cause stress, when really they aren’t that important in the big scheme of life.
Let’s take a look at verse 9 of this same chapter in Haggai : “9 Ye looked for much, and, lo it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the Lord of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house.”
God is telling the people in this passage of scripture that the reason they felt they were working so hard and had so little to show for it, was because they were laboring for the wrong things. They wanted to build their own houses up, and had forgotten about the importance of God’s house. It is true that when we labor for things only to puff ourselves up, or bring glory to ourselves it exhausts us, and ends up costing us more than it was worth in the long run. The Bible teaches all through scripture that little is much when God is in it, or it is better to have a good name, rather than great riches… We must make things with an eternal impact our biggest priority!
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33
Let’s prioritize our “to-do” lists, so we don’t run ourselves ragged trying to please everyone in the world, and forget/run out of energy to further impact the world for Christ!
