As God challenged His people (whom He had returned from exile back to their land) in Haggai 1:2-4, God’s prophecy through the prophet Haggai continued.
Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”
Haggai 1:5-6 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/hag.1.5-6.NIV
These were some consequences that the people experienced because they were focusing on themselves, rather than God and Hs temple: They worked hard but didn’t get much for it. They accumulated money, but it didn’t seem to last. They tried to get things for themselves, but those things didn’t satisfy them.
Do you know people like that today, who seem to be all work and no progress, or all action and no results? They labor and strive, but never seem to get ahead. Have you ever been someone like that? If so, you’re not alone (whether or not you’re struggling for the same reason as the people Haggai was prophesying to).
Now, let’s think about why this was a big deal. First, let’s rule some things out:
God doesn’t have a human ego, so He wasn’t being petty and taking things away from people who had nicer houses than He did. In fact, even though God used the temple as a place where His glory could dwell in a special way, Paul mentioned that God doesn’t live in temples made by human hands [see Acts 17:24-28; Harlen & Ham also cite Stephen in Acts 7:48]. Externally, there had been some pushback from others in the region, so that might have been an excuse, but it seems like the people weren’t even trying to rebuild the house of worship in the city of Jerusalem.
So, why do you think this was such a big deal, for the people to have not returned to rebuilding God’s temple in Jerusalem? Consider the following possibilities suggested by commentators Hahlen & Ham (cited below, p.267-268):
- The symbolism of God’s presence among the people
- God’s honor being restored
- Tribute being brought to God as King
Those seem reasonable. However, while I won’t pretend to have the background of commentators and other writers, though, I wonder if the problem was not specifically that the people had nicer houses than God’s house at this time. Instead, I wonder if the problem was that the people’s hearts were still focused on themselves, instead of looking to God as a key part of their lives. In that scenario, the people’s lack of investment in the temple was – at least partially – due to a lack of focus on God. So often in the Bible, what God describes in material terms is merely a symptom of the state of our hearts. (Just read what Jesus said about money, after all. Our money isn’t usually the problem, it’s the places we allow it to occupy in our hearts: driving decisions that God should be directing instead of our own selfishness.)
In addition, as the same commentators [Hahlen & Ham, p.256] rightly pointed out, rebuilding the temple was also part of God’s overall plan for His people. In verses 7-11, God – through Haggai’s prophecy – told (or reminded*) the governor and the high priest that they should build the temple, and He reiterated that a drought they were currently experiencing was because they hadn’t done so.
* While not mentioned here, remember that rebuilding the temple was one of the reasons that the Jewish exiles were sent back to Jerusalem by King Cyrus in the first place! (See 2 Chronicles 36-22-23 and Ezra 1.) If the people wouldn’t rebuild the temple for God, one might think that keeping the king happy (lest he change his mind) would be another reason to not put off this task.
To their credit, the people listened to this message from God (see Haggai 1:12-15). In fact, they began work on the temple just over 3 weeks from when God’s first message described here in Haggai was given. (This has been calculated as September 21, 520 B.C, per Hahlen and Ham, p.258.) Given that projects like this usually take some time to ramp up, I would call that being pretty responsive!
And, an additional message from God – whether part of the previous one or a follow-up to it – confirmed His presence with His people.
Then Haggai, the LORD’s messenger, gave this message of the LORD to the people: “I am with you,” declares the LORD.
Haggai 1:13 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/hag.1.13.NIV
And, God being with His people is a really good thing!
So, like the people in the time of Haggai, let’s each remember to put God first in our heart, and not just treat him like a half-finished building. He pursues and seeks us because He loves us, but we must choose to return to Him when we go astray, not so that we can earn His favor (since He already loves us and took care of all that we need), but because if He forced us to walk with Him, that wouldn’t be a healthy mutual relationship at all. And, when we do make that choice, what better life could we possibly live than one where a loving God like that is with us?
From Sunday School lesson prepared for August 10, 2025
References:
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – Minor Prophets Volume 2 (Nahum-Malachi), by Mark Allen Hahlen and Clay Alan Ham. © 2006 College Press Publishing Co.
Those Who Sin Differently 