by Dave Bragonier

What personal emotions and actions do you experience as you witness one social, political and economic crisis after another? What thoughts and fears do you have as we stand at the doorway of a new millennium? What potential catastrophes do you see coming down the road? In light of all this, how should we as Christians react and prepare?

Tucked away toward the back of the Old Testament is the book of Haggai. Though written to the governor, high priest and people of that day, some 2,500 years ago, there are some choice nuggets of gold for us to contemplate and apply to our lives today.

God was using Haggai to call and encourage His people to rebuild the (physical) temple. What is God calling us to do today in light of our times?

We read in Haggai 1:3-7, "Then the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet saying, "Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses while this house lies desolate?" Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts, "Consider your ways! "You have sown much, but harvest little; you eat, but there is not enough to be satisfied; you drink, but there is not enough to become drunk; you put on clothing, but no one is warm enough; and he who earns, earns wages to put into a purse with holes. Thus says the Lord of hosts, "Consider your ways! . . ."

You and I live in very "prosperous" times. Businesses, stock markets and real estate have done well. The American people have prospered. We could say we live in a time of "dwelling in paneled houses."

However, amidst all this so-called prosperity, consumer debt and bankruptcies are rising at an alarming rate. Marriages continue to crumble and families are torn apart. Morality and character don't seem to matter anymore. Scandal is everywhere. Y2K problems loom on the horizon like a big catalyst ready to launch us into potential turmoil.

Churches are also not immune to living in "paneled houses" while "His house" lies desolate. Social and economic pressures influence us to construct bigger buildings, hire more staff, increase our church "roster" and sometimes water down God's Word.

Unfortunately, churches which do this soon discover they can barely make the mortgage payment or meet payroll; much less feed the hungry, clothe the naked or fund "missionaries." As one church grows in attendees, two others shrink. As God's Word gets watered down so does holiness, individual commitment, church involvement and personal giving (now less than 3% of income).

In a sense, we can say that individually, and as a church, we are harvesting little, helping few, not very content, anesthetized from reality and ending up with little to show for all our effort and money. That's today's version of what Haggai was saying.

Twice in this chapter God says, "Consider your ways!" Let's do that and ask ourselves some probing questions:

• Do we have a personal, intimate relationship with Jesus Christ? Or, do we just know about God and experience Jesus with our soul (mind, will, emotions)? God is spirit and must be experienced and worshipped with our spirit, through the Holy Spirit.
• If we are followers of Christ (Christians), are we doing just that - following Him? If we analyze our current direction, time, effort, recreation and money, who would it indicate we are following? What gods have we placed in front of the one true God?
• Are we reaching out to those around us in love? What do our relatives, neighbors, associates and peers think about our "religion" and our Savior? Do they even know we have one?
• Where are we financially (biblically)? Are we "stewards" or "owners?" Are we reducing our debt and learning to live frugally? Is our giving increasing each year? Are we putting our money where our mouth is?
• Am I and my church ready to minister during a difficult period of time? What if Y2K (or any other economic downturn) predictions become a reality? Is my family and my church doing any planning or preparation? Are we ready to feed the hungry, clothe the naked or help the hurting? Will we be in a position to extend the hand of Christ to a lost world, or will we just be heaping our problems onto the pile with theirs?

"Consider your ways!" What are your ways indicating to you? If you don't like what you see in the mirror, in your life or in your church, don't fret or loose heart! God doesn't care where we've been or what we've done. That's why He sent His son Jesus Christ (our High Priest) and the balance of the book of Hagaii, as a source of hope and encouragement!

"Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lord their God . . . And the people showed reverence for the Lord. Then Haggai, the messenger of the Lord, spoke by the commission of the Lord to the people saying, "I am with you, declares the Lord." So the Lord stirred up the spirit of . . . and they came and worked on the house of the Lord of hosts, their God . . ."

What sins, habits or worldly philosophies do you need to confess and repent (turn from)? What changes need to be made in your life, priorities and finances? Obey the voice of the Lord your God. Show reverence for the Lord. Start reading His Word and implementing His freedom giving principles. And remember, God is with you, declares the Lord!

Recently, I heard someone say that people like Billy Graham, James Dobson, Larry Burkett, Bill Gothard, Gary Bauer, etc. are not the superstars of Christianity. They are just the norm of true Christianity, people sold out for Christ. Are you a "Billy Graham" that God is just waiting to blossom and use world-wide? You'll never know until you give yourself completely to Him!

^{Copyright ©2009 Barnabas Financial Ministry}