You eat, but do not have enough;
You drink, but you are not filled with drink;
You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm;
And he who earns wages,
Earns wages to put into a bag with holes.”
(Haggai 1:6, New King James)
Human nature drives us for more. If the food doesn’t satisfy, we keep eating. If the paycheck doesn’t make us happy, we chase more money. Then we pursue debt and extend our credit into the danger zone.
So many people live in a continual state of unhappiness. They search for fun, relief, self-expression, distraction, and even wickedness. Why do they feel empty? Because they failed to make God happy.
Leave the carnival, step away from the buffet, shut off the game machine, get off the roller coaster, park your shopping cart, roll up your beach towel, and go to church. Get your heart right with God. Give Him time each day as you search the Scriptures and seek His heart in worship. Give Him the priority in your paycheck by tithes and offerings. Promote His cause by sharing the gospel with someone else and telling them about the Promise.
When you seek first His kingdom, even boring days are fulfilling. When you seek your own, even lavish fun feels hollow. Contrary to Wal-Mart theology, getting more stuff won’t solve an unhappy heart. Only an intense, personal relationship with God does.
When Haggai preached his message to God’s people, they were on a vicious cycle of narrow survival. God reminded them that if they would go back to work building the Temple, they would find satisfaction again in even the simple things of life. How about you? Are you generally satisfied and full of the Lord Jesus? Or do you suffer the inner gnawing of discontent? Don’t neglect building the Temple where God can dwell in your heart and mind.
Crave heavenly things; be content with everything else.
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