How can we apply "no breath in it" to evaluate our priorities? Setting the Scene • Habakkuk 2:19: “Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Awake!’ or to a silent stone, ‘Arise!’ Can it give guidance? It is covered with gold and silver, but there is no breath in it.” • The prophet exposes idols—beautiful on the outside, completely lifeless within. • God contrasts Himself—“the LORD is in His holy temple” (Habakkuk 2:20)—alive, speaking, sovereign. What “No Breath in It” Means • Breath (Hebrew ruach) equals life, spirit, vitality (Genesis 2:7). • Anything without God-given breath is powerless, empty, and deceptive. • Idols can be wood, stone, gold, or any modern pursuit we exalt above the Lord. Modern Breathless Idols • Career prestige that demands compromise of faith • Entertainment binges that dull spiritual sensitivity • Social media approval that feeds pride but not character • Material upgrades that never satisfy (Luke 12:15) • Religious activity done for appearance, not love for Christ (Isaiah 29:13) Evaluating Priorities Through the Breath Test • Examine where time, money, thoughts, and emotions flow; these reveal what the heart worships (Matthew 6:21). • Measure each pursuit against Scripture’s call to love God and neighbor (Matthew 22:37-39). • Identify whether the activity fuels spiritual life or leaves the soul flat and weary. • Replace “breathless” habits with life-giving practices: Scripture intake, prayer, service, fellowship (Acts 2:42-47). Life-Filled Priorities Highlighted in Scripture • Seeking first the kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33) • Setting minds on things above, where Christ is (Colossians 3:1-2) • Bearing fruit that lasts—love, joy, peace, etc. (Galatians 5:22-23) • Investing in people rather than possessions (1 Thessalonians 2:8) • Offering bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God (Romans 12:1) Living It Out • Turn from lifeless pursuits to serve the living and true God (1 Thessalonians 1:9). • Invite the Holy Spirit—the Breath of God—to animate every priority. • Choose investments of time and energy that carry eternal weight, not merely temporal glitter. |
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