Does it ever feel like you are working incredibly hard but not getting anywhere?
Simply working harder is probably not the answer. There are those who say ‘work smarter’ meaning be more efficient. And this can be helpful. Changing my priorities to address things that are important and in my control can produce significant results. But this often does not take into account the spiritual element of work.
The Prophet Haggai said:
“You have planted much, but 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 in a purse with holes in it.” This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,” says the Lord. “You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house. Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops.”
Haggai 1:6-10 NIV
https://www.bible.com/111/hag.1.6-10.niv
Priorities are critical, but do not be fooled into thinking that your business, your job, your family, your and even your home are not intimately dependent on God. The prophet Haggai makes it clear that God must come first and when we place Him first He blesses the rest.
Haven’t we heard this before? ‘Seek first His Kingdom and all the rest will be given to you.’ ‘Give your tithes and offerings to God first and He will bless your store houses and they will be overflowing.’
Haggai says build Gods house first. But what does this mean?
“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?”
1 Corinthians 3:16 NIV
https://www.bible.com/111/1co.3.16.niv
“you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
1 Peter 2:5 NIV
https://www.bible.com/111/1pe.2.5.niv
Maybe you have neglected your own spiritual life and have let sin – apathy, anger, greed… dominate. Repent seek God first.
Maybe you have neglected the Body of Christ (the church) and failed to participate – neglected your gifts, stopped gathering, sought to control others… Repent seek God first and love your neighbor.
I wonder what will happen when we get our house in order? I think God is faithful and bless the work of our hands.