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Ring of Truth provides 366 daily ‘proofs’ that the Bible is consistent throughout from Genesis to Revelation, and relevant for our lives today!
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Haggai 1:5-6
“Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but have 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 into a purse with holes in it.”
Worthless energy.
We have now arrived at the time of Ezra. The time the remnant of the people came back from Babylon with the specific job of rebuilding the Temple on King Cyrus’ instructions.
After King Cyrus’ death, however, the work halted during the reigns of Kings Xerxes and Artaxerxes. This was because the enemies of the Jews wrote letters to the kings and told them how rebellious the people were. They said that after they had completed the rebuilding, no taxes, etc., would ever come back to the kings’ treasuries. So the kings commanded that the work should cease.
However, times have moved on again, and Darius (Daniel’s mate - the lion keeper) was now king.
Although the people had prospered over the years, they had neglected the House of God – the Temple. Indeed, life was then becoming a bit of a ‘rat race’. They were working longer hours, investing more in their crops, and spending more on their daily needs but getting nowhere. All their industry, hard work, self-effort and planning were to no avail. They were taking one step forward and ending up going two steps backwards. Struggling just to ‘keep their heads above water.
Does that sound familiar? With all your hard work and effort, does the end result still seem to amount to nothing? Maybe we need to get our priorities right, too.
I still find it incredible that even today people will happily work all the hours there are, basically just to stand still economically. We had some neighbours who had a new baby – their first. No sooner had Mum and baby arrived home than mother was planning to go back to work. Her husband was already in full time employment, so she arranged a nanny to look after their baby while she went to work.
When I asked her how much she earned and how much it cost to hire the nanny, the difference was peanuts. She had abdicated her responsibilities, given up her motherly privileges, which are priceless, for just a few extra dollars a month. What a tragedy.
I remember my wife and I being asked to speak at a young marrieds’ conference some years ago. We were asked to talk about finance. I opened up a discussion on tithing. What was the result? Testimony after testimony that you cannot afford not to tithe.
Before you tithe, you think you cannot afford to. The washing machine breaks down, and then it’s the car, or T.V. Once you tithe, it’s amazing how all those things just seem to go on working. Listen, this is the time for a ‘priority’ check-up, okay?
They had put their lifestyle before the Kingdom of God. Why do we need a Church and Pastors, etc? Not to have grand buildings and to stop the pastors from being unemployed. But to advance the Kingdom of God.
Also because it is a privilege to be a part of what God is doing on earth. God entrusts money to us so we can help advance His Kingdom, be a part of helping the poor, and help in setting Satan’s captives free. What can be more worthwhile? Do you still invest in the temporary or the eternal? “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21).
Think your giving through again. Put God first. It’s the only path of blessing.
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