By David Faust
The Jews returned to Jerusalem after years of Babylonian captivity and began rebuilding God’s temple. Before long, though, they neglected the temple and focused on their own houses. The prophet Haggai rebuked their misplaced priorities and asked, “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this [God’s] house remains a ruin?” (Haggai 1:4).
Someone said a preacher’s job is to “disturb the comfortable and comfort the disturbed,” and Haggai did both. People surely squirmed when he quoted the Lord’s words, “What you brought home, I blew away. Why? . . . . Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house” (1:9). Later, however, Haggai encouraged the governor, Zerubbabel, the high priest, Joshua, and the rest of the builders by saying, “‘Be strong, all you people of the land . . . and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty” (2:4).
Full Houses, Empty Lives
A preacher friend and I were discussing the apostle Paul’s warning that people will “gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear” (2 Timothy 4:3).
“There are two ways preachers scratch itching ears,” my friend pointed out. “One is by preaching false doctrine. The other is by saying things that are true, but avoiding any topics that make people uncomfortable.”
Haggai proclaimed an unpleasant but necessary message. He preached, “Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it’” (Haggai 1:5-6).
The people had full houses, but empty lives. They were so frustrated and ineffective, it was as if they were putting money in purses filled with holes; yet they refused to repent and turn to the Lord.
A Challenge to Us
What would a prophet like Haggai say to American Christians today? Might he preach something like this?
“Your priorities are wrong! You are preoccupied with your own comfort and neglecting the Lord’s work.
“You devote hours to your cell phones and TV trivia, but you can’t find time for Bible reading and prayer. Your lifestyles aren’t significantly different from those who don’t follow Jesus. You want church leaders to entertain you instead of equipping you to do ministry yourself.
“You spend extravagant amounts of money on specialty coffees and restaurant meals, but you give less than a tithe to the Lord’s work—and make ministry leaders beg for support to spread the gospel and care for the poor.
“Your stadiums are full but not your church buildings. You gladly sit outside in scorching heat or freezing cold to watch a four-hour football game, but you complain when a worship service lasts more than an hour.
“You worry about your kids, but you give them little spiritual guidance. You fixate on politics and economics but pay little attention to loving God and loving your neighbors. Stop neglecting the house of God!”
If he were here today, I’m not sure Haggai would say those exact words. But I’m sure he would comfort us—and make us uncomfortable. That’s what faithful preachers do.
Personal Challenge: According to Hebrews 12:6, “The Lord disciplines the one he loves.” How do you respond when a preacher or another Christian speaks firm words of rebuke and calls you and other believers to repentance? Is your heart open to receive correction from the Lord?
Author: David Faust
David Faust serves as contributing editor of Christian Standard and senior associate minister with East 91st Street Christian Church in Indianapolis, Indiana. He is the author of Not Too Old: Turning Your Later Years into Greater Years.
