Community Devotions

Give Careful Thought to Your Ways

SCRIPTURE

5 Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. 6 You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in purse with holes in it." (Haggai 1:5-7)

OBSERVATION

The central ministry of the prophet Haggai was to rebuild the temple. Nineteen years after the initial construction of the temple in 539 B.C. temple construction stopped because the people built their own homes and worked on their own farms. In a series of four "oracles" or "words" to the people God commands them to give careful thought to their ways. The people are to pause. They are to think deeply and consider thoughtfully the futility of their ways--they have exerted maximum effort at minimal gain. The people have toiled and labored with very little return because they have built their own house first and neglected to build the house of God at all. In essence, they sought to build their own kingdom and not the kingdom of God. When God's covenant people don't live out their covenant the consequence of drought and poor harvest is naturally imposed on them. The importance of the temple cannot be overstated because it is the primary dwelling of the presence of God and it was also the central gathering of worship and sacrifice for the people of God. When there is no worship, there is no rest. 

APPLICATION

Though this book is over twenty five hundred years old it's message is timeless. In fact it can be a commentary of United States--"you have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink but never have your fill. You put on clothes but are not warm. All one has to do is drive through Hawaii Kai on the 3rd Thursday of the month to see the excess stuff we have. We work to have more stuff but it never satisfies. Point of Obedience:

 - Enjoy the satisfaction and fulfillment of seeking the kingdom of God and having the Lord "add all these things."

 - Give careful thought to the fleeting emptiness of consumerism.

 - Encourage the people of God to think deeply of their ways--why work so much? why have so much stuff? why do we have so much? why do we think we need so much?

PRAYER

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for speaking to me today and encouraging me to think deeply. Jesus you are all I want. Help me to seek your kingdom first. You are my portion and strength.

Urgent versus Important

Mark 8:16-17, 20

16 They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.”

17 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened?

20 “And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”   They answered, “Seven.”

OBSERVATION

One’s mind is shaped and led by what he considers important and critical.  More often than not, everything begins to be looked upon through the lens of priority.  Jesus’ disciples mistook His comments regarding the Pharisees and Herod - warnings against the influence or pressure exerted by them - to mean that the disciples failed in logistics – poor load plans for not packing enough bread.  They had one loaf.  In their defense, Jesus’ disciples did have to contend with rudimentary tasks of food and water because someone had to acquire them.  In their days, being able to feed yourself and others was laborious.  But there is a difference between ensuring provisioning for basic necessities of daily care and feeding and being overly focused on daily tasks to the point where it consumes you.

The point that Jesus was making was especially critical because the conversation is taking place subsequent to the feeding of the four thousand by Jesus with seven loaves of bread.  Did the disciples not think that somehow Jesus wouldn’t be able to feed the thirteen of them with one loaf? 

Jesus asks us to focus on the important – God’s truth in life - and not on the urgent – what do we have to eat?  Our approach to life shows, then, that we trust in God for our provisions as well as life’s priorities.

APPLICATION

Be equipped with a lens of God’s priorities so that we can focus on the important, eternal issues of salvation, loving God and our family and neighbors.

PRAYER

Father God, I praise your name.  Your name is great.  Help me to see the important things in life, not the urgent.  Cleanse my heart so that I am able to hear and discern your voice and will.  Bless and protect Michael – would you guide his path in the Army.  Bless and protect Joshua as he strives to do well in school.  Watch over him during the Spring break.  Guide and pour joy in to Daniel.  Give peace and assurance to Christine.