A Word About Holes

Haggai 1 describes a society that has gone off the rails.  The society has forgotten what is important.  They fill themselves with emptiness, and they hope their stones will be turned into bread.  My Bible Study had a good discussion today about this.  We all remembered those times that we wanted God to bless our plans, our stuff, our choices, and our priorities, even when they are outside of God's plan.

The nation is Judah, the southern kingdom of Israel.  It was 520BC, and the people had returned from exile in Babylon.  God had delivered them out of exile, and He had given them some level of prosperity.  They had crops to plant, food to eat, plenty to drink, warm clothing, and wages to put into their pockets.  Still the people seemed to live hand-to-mouth.  "You have planted much but harvest little. You eat but are not satisfied. You drink but are still thirsty. You put on clothes but cannot keep warm. Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes (Haggai 1:6)!"

Here are some statistics.  A 2025 debt.com survey reported that 69% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck.  Another report said that 41% of Americans couldn't cover a $1,000 emergency without borrowing.  This is in a country that ranks 2nd in affluence after accounting for cost of living.  It seems Haggai 1:6 describes us!  

The "Lord of Heaven's Armies" (our Lord) says, in Haggai, there is a reason for this.  It isn't more money, crops, stuff, and/or wealth.  God calls the people of Judah to account for neglecting the God who brought them out of exile, stood by them while they were strangers in a foreign land, and heard their cries of despair.  God's clear message is ... "get outside of self."  How do we do this?

Here are some ways we can respond to God's call in the days ahead:

1. We can invest in things that require time, energy, money, effort, and inconvenience.  God's house is built when we place His Church above our comfort.

2. At our Mission's Auction this week, we can give generously, and we might just get something we want in the process.  Bid online, and/or buy a ticket and be at the auction in person.  This auction thrives when we (as the Church) show up.

3. We can be alert for needs described by our Trustees, as they faithfully work to maintain the facilities of the Church.

In Haggai, the people placed their needs 1st, leaving God's house with the leftovers.  El Roi is the Hebrew name for "the God who sees."  God sees our hearts, and He certainly sees our priorities.  I have heard people say, "God understands my circumstances."  Yes, he does.  And He calls you, me, and all of us to do what John Wesley did all his life ... make all you can, so you can save all you can, so you can give all you can.  Lent and Missions week are great times to look outside of ourselves and give to what God is doing.  I hope God can count on you!  Maybe the holes in your pockets can become mended and whole!