Commitment - Haggai 1 and 2

The Babylonians defeated Judah and destroyed the city of Jerusalem and brought destruction and devastation on the Israelites because they had entered the Promised Land under orders that they must be obedient to God’s way and they had failed miserably. The most severe charge against them was that they had worshipped gods that were foreign and unacceptable to the true God who has always contended that he is the only worthy one. They had access to the most beautiful of all temples—the one built by Solomon but were desecrating it by the worship of false gods that they were supposed to have destroyed and removed. God had promised that he would save a remnant and allow them to return to their home land so…
In 539 BC Cyrus and the Great Persia defeated the Babylonians. Cyrus set free the Israelite captives to return to their homeland and he encouraged them to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. [You will remember from our study of this incident last year that Cyrus furnished the materials and money necessary to rebuild the temple…and paid it out of government funds.] (Was that a practice of ‘separation of church and state?)
The work began with enthusiasm on the part of the returning Jews but their COMMITMENT waned slowly as they became more interested in building their own homes and businesses back with higher priority than the building of the temple with the subsequent growth of worshippers throughout the land. I really do not believe that I am stretching my imagination when I tell you that I can see a parallel happening right here in Heber Springs. Think about this for a moment. [Only a few of you respond. Please let me know occasionally…do you agree or disagree?]
[I do not make the following statement in a critical manner…because in some ways it is a complement to Cleburne County. But it must raise a question in some minds as to whether we are totally pleasing to God.] In the last thirty years several new banks have been built in the city and county. All of the existing banks have been remodeled or built new and there are new branches all over the area. A good post office has been replaced with a new one. The new hospital and new college campus are marvelous additions to the community. A tax was passed that will soon bring to completion a tremendous facility and program to improve living and recreation accommodations. The new GM dealership is second to none. Buildings and services at South Ridge are the envy of most small towns. There have been literally hundreds of new homes that have been built around the lake area and many of these are huge, eloquent and very beautiful homes. There seems to be a mind to improve, build and grow and I do not find anything wrong with this kind of community attitude. BUT……
During this same period of time have we seen an equal amount of the same kind of growth and improvement in our churches? I don’t think so. With very few exceptions, churches are about the same size, and the membership has not increased appreciably. Reports from dependable sources indicate that there are an excessive number of the people in the Lake area that are not associated with any of the churches in the area. This is indeed a “Field, white unto harvest.” Are we studying a lesson that deals only with the Israelites who were condemned for building fine homes before they took care of the temple needs? I truly believe that the lessons taught in the OT are relevant to us in our day. Read verse 9. God is telling us that there is a problem “Because My house still lies in ruins, while each of you is busy with his own house.” Tithing has not been completed when you give ten percent of your income to the Lord. Worship through tithing includes ten percent of your care and concern for the lost, and ten percent of your time and talents dedicated to perform what ever work is needed to serve others.
“Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains in ruin [1: 4]?” This book written by the prophet Haggai is filled with challenge and promise, as it reminds us of God’s claim on our lives and what our priorities should be. As you read both chapters of this book, try to imagine that you see and hear Haggai as he goes to the streets of Jerusalem with his message urging the people to get back to doing what God would have them do. Now let this message get personal with you…listen to Haggai speaking to you—urging you to reconsider your promises and your priorities in accordance with what God would have you to do in your town…your church and even in your family. What does God want you to do? When will you start? Put all other aside and obey him.
This book is a call to his people to rebuild his temple. Let me hastily remind you that a near empty sanctuary on any Sunday morning or evening service is a sin in the sight of the lord. The church needs to be a beautiful worshipful place…but it is even more important that his workers see that there are people there for each service, ready to worship. The building of a beautiful edifice is commendable but it does not relieve the membership of the obligation to see that the lost are invited and ministered to. I will select my local church as an example of what I believe the tithe commitment requires from each Christian. Think about this!
[7days in week x 24 hours = 168 hrs. 8 hrs. A day for rest and sleep =56 hrs. This leaves 112 hrs. To be used and 10% or the tithe of your time that belongs to God amounts to over 11 hrs. Do you give God 11 hrs? Each week? If you attend every Sunday…allow from 8 am. To 12 noon =4 hrs. If you attend every Sunday evening allow from 5 to 8 pm. = 3 hrs. And if you attend every Wednesday from 5 to 7 pm. = 2 hrs. This is only 9 hrs each week. What are you doing to make up for the other two hrs? What are you doing to make up for all those Sunday evening services you do not attend? And what takes the place of all those Wed. night prayer meetings you do not attend? Thee are many ways to serve…the question is do you keep up with your time in his service.
I know what many of you are thinking. And that is…that there is no way anyone is supposed to be that careful to make sure they give God his share of their life. Well, you do it each year for your Uncle Sam. You make sure that you account for each dollar you make… and you give a set percentage of that in taxes or go to federal prison. To whom do you owe allegiance? To Uncle Sam? Yes. To God? You decide.
Look with me at the scriptures for today’s thought. The first fifteen verses constitute the call for the people to rebuild the temple. When the results of this call bogged down because of their lack of interest in God’s house and their increased interest in their own affairs, Haggai wrote the second chapter to encourage them to complete the temple. These people had made a personal commitment to complete the temple…and had not kept the COMMITMENT.
Look at the fifth verse and you will see that people need to constantly take heed to what is happening in their lives. Give careful thought to what you are doing and what your rewards are for doing it. Have you ever wondered why it is that you can plant much and still harvest little? You may eat and have enough but many go hungry. You may personally drink but actually never feel that you are satisfied. You are earning better wages than ever before in your life, but your purse seems to have holes in it…gas $3.00 a gal. Steak $12.00 a pound. Milk as high as gas. And a 5 cent Coke cost a dollar. Am I right? You got any holes in your purse? The Vandivers have.
God is telling us to give some careful thought to our ways. It is time for us to go up into the mountains and bring some timbers down to start his temple that he can be proud of. Don’t get smart and try to defy what God is saying. It may be that you already have the sanctuary…is it big enough to allow growth? You may have plenty of classrooms…are they filled on Sundays? And if they are filled, do you have dedicated teachers and workers to help the people who have come in need of knowledge and understanding about our Lord? I know what the most important answer is…Are your churches over filled each Sunday? Are you using what you have to worship God?
Go to the second chapter and read the first nine verses. This was Haggai’s second message, and it was given during the Feast of Tabernacles in October 520 BC. The older people could still remember the incredible beauty of Solomon’s temple that had been destroyed 66 years earlier. Many of those that could remember the beauty of the first temple were very discouraged at the results of this second building of the temple which was far inferior to the first. If I remember right, the first temple…Solomon’s temple was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World. This second temple was great…beautiful…huge and wonderful…especially for one other reason.
At this time Haggai encouraged the people when he assured them that God was pleased, and had promised that the glory of this temple would far surpass that of Solomon’s temple that was destroyed. Get this! It is not the beauty, cost, elegance of the shrine that counts. It is the presence of God in the shrine that counts. About 500 years later JESUS CHRIST WALKED THROUGHOUGHT THIS TEMPLE! God was there. Yes, this is the temple where the twelve year old Savior of the world conversed with the wise men and astonished them with his knowledge and wisdom as he discussed with them the way of the Lord in their time. This is the place where his parents found him when they returned to see why he was not with them on their way home.
Oh, I hope you will get the message that is being conveyed to us here in these words. We should never be satisfied worshipping in God’s house that is not a fit place to live and worship. The appearance and the condition of the building should be one that can bring praise and glory to our Master. However, this does not mean that the pillars must be of marble, the floors of gold and the door-knobs studded with diamonds. It is far more important that the worshippers are faithful followers of our Lord. It is far more important that those that tithe give their tithe of themselves including time, money, and service.
Read both chapters and make your own decision about your position to God as compared to the Israelites in today’s lesson. WHERE IS YOUR COMMITMENT? ARE YOU BUILDING YOUR HOUSE OR GOD’S?