Haggai 1:2-8
“Thus says the LORD of hosts: This people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the LORD.”
Then the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet,
“Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?
Now therefore thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider how you have fared.
You have sown much, and harvested little; you eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and he who earns wages earns wages to put them into a bag with holes.
“Thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider how you have fared.
Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may appear in my glory, says the LORD.
Homily:
In the above passage, God talks about the neglect of His house, while people prioritise external tokens.
He then asks them to take stock of how they’ve fared with their current priorities. The report was damning.
“You have sown much, and harvested little; you eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and he who earns wages earns wages to put them into a bag with holes.”
Where is God’s House?
Paul answers in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20:
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”
How do we neglect it?
By lust for external tokens.
“Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.” – 1 Corinthians 6:18
“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of the Father, but is of the world.” – 1 John 2:16
How do we build it?
By living His word.
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” – Matthew 7:24
What next can I do?
“Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.” – James 1:21