Consider your ways

Haggai 1:5 Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. 6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. 7 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.

Sometimes we call it spinning our wheels. It seems that is what was happening in the days of Haggai the prophet. The people weren't lazy, just the opposite. They were very busy it seems. However, their priorities had gotten out of order. They were putting their needs, wants and personal ambitions ahead of the work and labor of God. The temple lay in ruin and they were busy building their own houses, planting their crops and working their fields. Attempting to provide for their family with the necessities of life; food, drink and clothes. Those are admirable things are they not? Things God expects of us, right? There is no mention of their being wasteful. So what was the problem? So what is the problem? Isn't it part of God's plan for the family that we provide for them? Does it shock you if I say "No!"?

Am I saying we should not work and just expect God, the church and social programs to provide for us and our families? Of course not. That would be irresponsible. But God is our ultimate provider. Jesus instructs us to acknowledge that in the example of the model prayer. Matt 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread. That prayer is recognizing God as the  provider.

Matt 6:31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

It is by and through His provision if we have a job and have the health to work. Whatever our means of support is a direct result of his grace toward us. What I'm saying is we generally aren't lazy but often like the people the prophet wrote about, we have our priorities shuffled around. Are you spinning your wheels and going nowhere in life? Put God first and let Him direct you paths.

Prov. 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.