Haggai 1:9-10

Haggai 1:9-10

There are only a few people who are plagued by laziness when it concerns earthly things; most people are very busy with their house, while the Lord’s house is in ruins. The busyness of being saved as much as possible so we can be ready when Jesus returns is extremely rare. There are many people who are busy with earthly things (they are zealous when it concerns them); one person is worse than the next. We are busy with things with which we should not be busy. There is almost no one who busies himself with being saved. People say that they want to be saved, but it is not true. They are slackers where they should be zealous. God’s house is in ruins; the church needs help. There is abundant opportunity, but people are busy with things that are outside; they are busy with their own house. There are many deficiencies and much that is out of order in God’s house. Nothing is in order as it should be, so we have good reason to be busy. If the righteous person is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear? We need to get busy being saved so that we do everything God’s Word says we should do, for example, seeking God’s kingdom first. Who does that all year long? Then all the other things will be added to us. We need very little of earthly things.

We are in great need of the divine life; we must be in need about it. All those who continue to be busy with their own house will stay behind. Only those who are busy with being saved will go with Him when He returns. There are innumerable examples of most people’s hearts being in earthly things; they virtually cry if they do not get them, and yet these things are only reserved for the fire. God said to Adam that the earth is cursed for his sake, and it has not been blessed again. Only the God-fearing person will be blessed. Food and house and clothing are cursed—all of it. Is that not the reason we ask God to bless the food? In spite of the theory, the entire heart is filled with earthly things. It is enough to make you sob over how little interest there is in godly things. People are exhorted, and yet they fall away simply because they were not honored by people. It is madness. People are in a deep sleep. You want ungodly people to honor you. That is a doubtful honor! One should avoid the honor of man like the plague. One should rather seek the honor of God, which we receive when we lay down our life for others. If people lived so that they received honor from God, they would not busy themselves with seeking the honor of man. God has opened my eyes to the facts. The evidence is not in words, but in daily life. Do people seek the things that are above when they are jealous of things that are on this earth? When there is a conversation about God’s Word, they are more interested in seeing who is coming through the door or what has fallen on the floor than in following the conversation; they are more interested in the present world than in God’s kingdom. They are supposedly interested in the church, but if they hear about a place where they can earn a lot of money, they run away from everything. Those who are busy with purifying themselves are few; their works cry out about it—those that get done and those that should have been done. Seek God’s kingdom first, and all the other things will be flung after you; all you have to do is receive them and thank and praise God.

The house has to be kept in tip-top shape. We need to get busy!!! We are far too slack and earthly-minded; all too little thoroughly saved; all too little redeemed and glad and free and heavenly-minded. There is far too little of helping our fellow men, of writing to them enough and praying. We have far too much of all earthly things and it is far too good for us. Not a shred of my spiritual life is too good, but all the earthly things are more than good enough. I have arrived at this conviction by believing God’s Word. He says that earthly things are cursed and that heavenly things are precious. Those who seek honor from one another cannot believe God. If someone dishonors me, it is a treasure in heaven for me, pure and simple. Jump for joy; it is nothing to feel insulted about. Those who do feel insulted do not believe in God’s Word—it is outside their hearts. Jump for joy when you are disliked because you believe God’s Word. The doctrine of Christ is that we must die—die in reality. This is possible when we seek God with all of our heart. Alas, we do not take God’s Word seriously; we do not believe that God’s Word is true. We are saved in spirit and in truth when we believe it. Then our house is being built on the rock, and it will stand when the rains and the floods come.

It is high time for everyone to get busy! Do not harden your heart when you hear God’s voice. Let it become deadly serious! May we not receive this commendation that every one of us is busy with his own house while the house of the Lord lies in ruins.