Give Priority for Concerns of God Over Your Personal Interests

Bible Passage: Haggai 1:1-14

1. The LORD disputes with His people for the slow progress of the rebuilding of the Temple (1:2-3)

(a) Depletion of enthusiasm
(b) Neglect of God’s priorities
(c) Preoccupation with personal work over God’s work
(d) Excuses

2. The LORD says that He caused their economic misfortunes due to their misplaced priorities (vv. 4-6; 9-11)

(a) Financial fortunes of God’s people is based on Him
(b) What happens in the lives of God’s people is the direct result of where they are in their relationship with Him

3. The LORD tells them that they need to give priority to the completion of the Temple (vv. 7-8)

(a) Four action words
(a1) Consider (verse 7)
(a2) Go up the hills (verse 8)
(a3) Bring woods (verse 8)
(a4) Build His house (verse 8)
(b) Realization of their neglect and giving priority to the building work will result in the LORD’s “pleasure” and “glory”
(b1) Heard
(b2) Feared
(b3) In other words, they changed the course instantly and focused on the Lord’s work
– Stirred up their spirit עור
– God awoke them from lethargy to decisive action

4. In Matthew 6:33, Jesus instructs His disciples “But seek first [God’s] kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well”

(a) The disciples must be preoccupied with concerns and priorities of Jesus
(b) When they are concerned about God’s priorities, God will provide for them bountifully (It is an emphatic promise)

Take Away

Participate in our church work by reprioritizing God’s interest (let the Crossroad Church be filled with people whose hearts God has “stirred”)
(a) Teachers at kids’ and teens’ school (b) Ushers (c) VBS volunteers (d) Prayer partners