Step 1: Honor God

Scripture: Thus says the Lord of Hosts: These people say, The time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord. Then the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying: Is it time for you yourselves to live in paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? You looked for much, and it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? says the Lord of Hosts. Because of My house that lies in ruins while each of you runs to his own house.  Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its crops.  Haggai 1:2-4,9-10

Observation: In this short book where the Lord commands the rebuilding of the temple, his first charge to the remnant who have returned to Jerusalem is this: You still struggle to make a living because you are taking care of yourself, but not honoring God.

At it's most basic, God says they have rebuilt their own houses, but not his temple. However, the temple is of course simply the earthly representation of a means to honor God. What God is really saying is that the returning remnant of rebuilt houses, planted crops, sown seed, planted vineyards and drank, begun their businesses ... yet have not done the work to honor God. In other words, in their daily activities and over a time that has lasted at least three years, they have looked every day to their own needs, and have not once put God first in their lives.

Application: This 'putting God first' charge in Haggai is not about the tithe. This is about daily walking-about life. This is a lesson that says "put God first in your work every day, then you can do the work you need to do with fruitfulness."

How do I put God first daily? I probably don't. Even by reading the bible first thing, that isn't about doing his work toward others, or actively putting him first at all times. Putting God first means doing his work as step 1 of every to-do list. It means entering meetings with a heart to serve others first then deal with business issues. It means caring about people, then the job. It doesn't mean NOT caring about the job or business issues ... it just means putting God first.

Prayer: Lord, I will seek to rebuild your temple where I am. I will seek to make your work my first order of business daily, hourly. Help me to keep you central in my heart as the starting point for that honor and service to you. May your will - not mine - be done. Amen.