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"Consider Your Ways"

The theme of the book of Haggai is: "Build The Temple!" Sixteen years earlier (536 B.C.), about 50,000 Jews had returned under the leadership of Zerubbabel. This had been prophesied 150 years before by Isaiah, that a decree would be given by Cyrus allowing the Jews to go home after 70 years of Captivity (Isa. 44:24-45:7; Cf. Jr. 25:11). Their first act was to erect the altar and to offer burnt offerings upon the altar (Ezra 3:26). They also gathered materials for the rebuilding of the temple, which they began in the second year (Ezra 4:1-24). Their enthusiasm however, was cooled when they met with opposition from the Samaritans (Ezra 4:2-5) and a decree forbidding the work obtained from Artaxerxes the king. The work ceased and the house of God lay in waste.

The zeal with which their labor was begun grew cold. These Exiles had returned with high hopes and great expectations of happiness and prosperity. However, their hearts were not sufficiently motivated to endure the inward distractions and outward opposition to arise and build. They acquiesced with complacency to the enforced cessation to their great work. They learned to look upon the ruins of their holy house with a certain despondency and turned to the furtherance of their own personal concerns. They were more than content to leave the restoration of the temple to other times and stronger hands than theirs. Finally, the original decree of Cyrus was discovered and the interdict of Artaxerxes was ended. Every assistance was now offered to the Jews to carry out their original design. The work on the temple however, was not resumed. Even after the violence of opposition had been lifted, the people continued to be very indifferent to the work of rebuilding and had neither interest nor courage to set about it again. They seemed glad that they had an excuse to be idle. Interestingly enough, neither danger nor difficulty had prevented them from building their own luxurious houses. Regarding the house of the Lord, they said, "The time is not come, the time that the Lord's house should be built" (Haggai 1:2). God raised up Haggai, the prophet, to reprove them for their indifference and slothfulness in rebuilding the temple.

Haggai calls upon them to "consider your ways" (1:5,7). Literally, "set your heart on your ways." They were to take a good look at themselves and consider what they had done since their return from Babylon. Their food, drink and clothing was inadequate (1:6,9). They were not satisfied, nor did they have enough. Their priorities were wrong, therefore Jehovah's blessings had been meager. Their failure to arise and build was due to their own carelessness (Haggai 1:2). They were selfishly concerned about their own luxury and comfort (Haggai 1:4). Their attitude was "let us build our own houses before we talk about the Lord's house."

Much good and important work is not done because it is put off. Remember, "the road to hell is paved with good intentions." Many today have lapsed into the same lethargic spiritual condition that characterized Israel, judging themselves righteous by what they don't do. "Consider your ways." A wax dummy will not lie, steal, listen to a dirty joke, but neither will he visit the sick, clean the building, teach a class, prepare for Bible Study, attend a gospel meeting or worship regularly. Think of what could be accomplished if all would "consider their ways" and follow the instructions of Haggai, "Be strong... and work" (2:4). The strength of Israel was not in numbers (Deut. 7:8-9; Judges 7; 1 Samuel 14). Likewise our strength is "in the Lord, and in the strength of His might" (Eph. 6:10). Yet, among so many professing Christians today are those who cannot see beyond their own little selves, and who imagine that a man's chief duty upon the earth is to put himself first while "the house of God lieth waste." Perhaps it is past time that we stopped to "consider our ways." - Micky Galloway

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