Consider Your Ways

As 2016 was hurtling toward it’s final weeks, my Bible reading in the book of Haggai got my attention.  The Jewish exiles who had finally been able to return to their beloved homeland began the arduous work of restoring God’s temple in Jerusalem, which lie in ruin and disrepair since the days of the Babylonian siege some 70 years earlier.  This once sacred place which Yahweh himself, the LORD of glory, had chosen as His dwelling place among His people was the center of worship for all of Israel.  But the restoration of the temple, once begun which vigor and great enthusiasm, was soon abandoned as the people of God began to focus on improving their own homes and living conditions.  God’s dwelling place remained unfinished and neglected. Personal ambition and individual projects of improvement had replaced the building of God’s house.

When the word of the LORD by the prophet Haggai came to the people, they were confronted on this very issue: “The people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the LORD.”  God knew their hearts and asked a penetrating question that was designed to cause examination of their motives: “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in paneled houses while this house lies in ruins?”  And then came that penetrating statement, “Now therefore says the LORD of hosts, CONSIDER YOUR WAYS!” (Hag. 1:5)

Here the LORD exhorts the people to “give careful thought” to their ways. He emphasizes the futility of their personal efforts at improving their own situations at the expense of neglecting God’s house. Despite the energy and focus expended on getting ahead the returning exiles came up short … still hungry, still thirsty, low crop yield, and although clothed, they still were not warm (v. 6). God’s final assessment to all their efforts? “You earn wages to put them in a bag with holes in it!” It was all for nothing! All their efforts and personal pursuits were woefully inadequate. Why? Because God was withholding blessing since they had chosen to neglect His house and put their own desires and comfort ahead of the worship and honor due Him. They made themselves the priority and not the LORD.  They had put the Almighty on the back burner in order to pursue what they thought was more important. In case they didn’t get it the first time, Yahweh once again challenges them to, “CONSIDER YOUR WAYS!”  (Hag. 1:7)

With 2017 nearly here, this seemed like a good time for me to do the same! I couldn’t get that phrase out of my head. It’s as if I could hear God’s Spirit saying, “Take time to reflect. Think about what you do and why. Look at how you spend your time and where you expend your energy.  Take careful inventory of what you’ve been involved in and how you have invested in my Kingdom work in the past year. Are you spinning your wheels on useless things, wasting time, money and talents for your own personal ambition or are you seeking my Kingdom and righteousness above all else, living for the audience of ONE? Consider your ways! Consider what changes I want you to make.” 

I don’t think we are so different from those Jewish exiles. It’s easy to get caught up with our own families, careers, homes, ambitions, projects and problems to the point that our hearts, once eager to please and live for God, grow cold and neglectful.  

As I began to reflect and “consider my ways” prior to the closing of 2016, God’s Spirit was so faithful at exposing areas in my life and heart that needed change.

This idea of careful reflection and self-examination is not new.  I’m reminded of other Scriptures where God’s people are exhorted to look carefully at their lives in a variety of contexts and even to ask God to search the depths of their hearts:

 “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”

Ps. 139:23-24 

“Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.” 1 Corinthians 11:28-29

“Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” 2 Corinthians 13:5

So how do you start this process of reflection? Here are some questions you may want to ask yourself

• How do I regularly pursue greater intimacy and relationship with God?

• How well do I steward the finances and material possessions God has blessed me with?

• In what ways do I waste my time and talents on things that will not count for eternity?

• What do I do to invest meaningfully in the lives of others?

• How faithfully do I pray for my husband, family, loved ones and those in need?

• What steps do I take to make God’s Word a priority in my life?

• How quick am I to obey the Spirit’s promptings?

• What have I been doing to take better care of my body, God’s temple?

Although we’re well into the New Year, may I invite you to set time aside for some thoughtful inventory of your life?  Be encouraged to know that God’s abundant grace and help are available to make any changes He desires. There is definite wisdom and benefit in stopping to assess what you’ve been doing with your life, how you are impacting your world and whom you are living for. Take time to be sure you aren’t “planting much but harvesting little” or “putting your wages in a bag with holes in it.”