What priorities does Haggai 1:9 suggest we should have in our lives? The Heart of the Passage “Haggai 1:9 – ‘You expected much, but behold, it amounted to little; and what you brought home, I blew away. Why?—declares the LORD of Hosts—Because My house remains in ruins, while each of you is busy with his own house.’” Notice the Contrast: Expectations vs. Reality • Israel looked for abundance yet harvested scarcity. • Their hard-won gains dispersed under God’s hand. • The reason: God’s house lay neglected while personal agendas thrived. Priority One: God’s Dwelling Comes First • In Haggai’s day the temple was the visible center of worship; ignoring it signaled indifference toward God Himself. • Today, the priority translates to: – Placing worship, fellowship, and sound doctrine at the center of life (Hebrews 10:24-25). – Guarding corporate and private time with the Lord before chasing projects, hobbies, or comforts. Priority Two: Eternal Investment Over Personal Comfort • The people poured resources into paneled homes (v. 4) while God’s house lay in ruins; Jesus later echoed the corrective: “Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:19-21). • Questions to ask ourselves about every purchase, calendar entry, or ambition: – Does this build God’s kingdom or merely accessorize mine? – Will it last beyond this life? Priority Three: Stewardship That Honors the Lord • “Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your harvest” (Proverbs 3:9). • Giving God the first portion—time, skills, finances—acknowledges His ownership and invites His blessing (Malachi 3:10). • Haggai 1:9 reminds us God can either multiply or “blow away” what we hold, depending on whether He is first. Priority Four: Obedience Precedes Provision • The order matters: build God’s house first, then see His favor (Haggai 2:18-19). • Parallel principle in Matthew 6:33—“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” • God does not oppose our needs; He opposes our inversion of the order. Priority Five: A God-Centered Work Ethic • Colossians 3:23—“Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, as for the Lord and not for men.” • When our labor aims at God’s glory, He can prosper it; when it serves self alone, He retains the right to frustrate it (cf. Luke 12:15-21). Practical Ways to Realign Today • Assess your calendar: schedule devotional and congregational commitments first. • Set a giving plan that treats God, not leftovers, as firstfruits. • Audit household spending for items that dwarf your generosity toward ministry. • Invest talents—teaching, hospitality, craftsmanship—into the local church before personal ventures. • Regularly revisit goals, asking, “How does this build God’s house?” Haggai 1:9 calls us to reorder life so that God’s presence, purposes, and worship are unmistakably first. When we do, scarcity gives way to the fullness He delights to provide. |