“Put God First While You Can”

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33 (NIV))

 

Around 536 B.C., there was a remnant of about 50,000 Jews who had returned from Babylon to Judah under the decree of Cyrus, King of Persia. Upon their return, they immediately rebuilt the altar and began offering sacrifices to God. Two years after that, they laid the foundation to rebuild the temple. After rejecting the Samaritans’ offer of help, the Jews were so threatened by them and the pressures all around them that it brought the work to a halt. More than a decade later, the people had gotten so caught up in the routine of life that they were no longer primarily concerned with rebuilding the temple. Even Zerubbabel, the governor, and Joshua, the high priest, had gotten comfortable. But God was not pleased.

 

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways.” (Haggai 1:7 (NIV))

 

Haggai 1:1-15 tells this story. When God is not pleased with his people—those who claim to be committed believers—He will do what is needed to set things straight. This happens on an individual basis as well as collectively. In this instance, these committed believers had slid into a routine that allowed their personal priorities to put God on the back burner. They had gotten comfortable making sacrifices at an altar with an unfinished temple. And instead of outright finding fault with God, they made time an excuse. With everything going on to hinder them, who could disagree that the timing must not be right to resume their work? “Wait”, they decided. Wait until things were better and easier. Wait until their personal concerns were under control. Wait.

 

Our church has a comfortable sanctuary, so Haggai’s warning to God’s people might seem like it doesn’t apply. But the warning is more than a call to continue rebuilding the temple. It is actually a call to straighten out our priorities and put God first!

 

In these trying times, we find ourselves with easy justification for the choices we might make to tend to our personal concerns. We are in the midst of a pandemic where our man-made directions tell us to make our own choice about whether or not to do this or that. Who can blame anyone during such uncertain times? God knows our hearts…and our motives.

 

“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:31-33 (NIV))

 

The people to whom Haggai prophesied were not terrible people. They had just allowed themselves to make excuses to the point that God was not the priority. When God sent the leaders and these people the warning, they responded appropriately. They repented and did what God commanded. They resumed the work! But what if they had not?

 

There are many instances throughout the Bible where we are warned to live righteously and to put God first. Prophetess preached a sermon years ago, and one of the points to remember was around the thought “Should’ve, Could’ve, Would’ve”. In other words, “When you could have, you didn’t. Now you want to, and you can’t.” This is all about regret and remorse. It’s the outcome of the unrepentant. The rich man and Lazarus from Luke 16:19-31 comes immediately to mind. The rich man cried out from Hades begging that Lazarus be sent from heaven to warn his family to repent. Abraham’s reply in verse 31 is this: “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.”

 

…Even if someone rises from the dead?

 

For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. (2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (NIV))

 

I urge you to be compelled by your love for God and your devotion to Christ Jesus with the help of the Holy Spirit to keep your priorities straight—even in these uncertain and difficult times. Put God first while you can!


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