Haggai 1-2

“Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while thi house remains a ruin?” (1:3). In the prophet Haggai’s day, the exiled people of Judah had been miraculously brought home to their own land, but the Temple remained in ruins. Instead of rebuilding God’s house, they were busy with their own personal projects (1:7-11). The prophet declared that all their hard work “turned out to be little” because they were not putting God first (1:9).

“Be strong ... and work. For I am with you” (2:4). Our anxious, self-focused projects fall short of what God desires. He calls us to put Him first so that His Spirit can work through us to accomplish His amazing purposes. “Do not fear” (2:5).