You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it. (Haggai 1:6)When Jerusalem was besieged, Solomon's temple was destroyed before the final group of hostages was transported to Babylon. Over 50 years later, under King Cyrus, the exiles returned to their ancestral home.
Upon returning to Jerusalem, they were quick to plant crops and build houses for themselves, but they dragged their feet when it came to rebuilding the temple. God speaks to them through the prophet Haggai: Is it time for you to be living in your paneled houses, while [the temple] remains a ruin? (1:4)
Then Haggai, speaking on behalf of Yahweh, summarizes their financial portfolios: Your crops aren't doing so good, you don't have enough to eat or drink, the chilly breeze goes right through the holes in your clothes, and your paycheck never lasts until the end of the month. Kind of makes you say, "Hmmm." (My Paraphrase, v. 6)
Today's equivalent of building up God's house before building our own would probably be giving financial support to the church. We could argue about whether or not the tithe (a tenth of our income) is still the standard, but we can't argue with the results. Being generous with God and his children has a way of coming back to bless us.
When you have too much month at the end of the money, could it be because, in your attempt to look out for #1, you've forgotten who #1 really is?
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