All your hard work will be for nothing.
--- The Bible
The book of Haggai opens (Haggai 1:1-12) with a pretty disturbing scene. The Israelites who are back from exile are not really living very well and prosperous. The Lord, our Lord, says this is because He has made it so. In verse 9 He says "You expected much, but received only a little. And when you brought it home, I made that little disappear. " Sounds pretty cruel for a God who is love, right?
Well, when you hear the Israelites' side of the story, we understand the situation better. Our God brought them out of exile. Our God helped them re-establish their lives. And how did they thank Him? They kept putting off the building of the Lord's temple. They kept putting it off saying they didn't have time and money - and they went on to built beautiful, posh houses for themselves. Such a thing won't fly with the Lord. That's what He said.
In our own lives today, we forget that our bodies are the living temples for God's Spirit. He resides within us and provides us with direction, guidance, strength and comfort. We are however, more bothered about looking good, smelling good and sounding good, rather than the state of condition that we treat/respect God's dwelling place. God is God. He commands respect. He commands our everything.
Let's give that to Him, then. Cheerio!
