A BAG WITH HOLES (HAGGAI 1: 1-15)

A BAG    WITH HOLES

HAGGAI 1: 1-15

Lesson Prepared by: krisha of Solomon Wisdom FB page

Scheduled Teacher: Bro.Bernard Llamado

JULY 22, 2018

MEMORY VERSE:

2 CORINTHIANS 6:10

As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

INTRODUCTION:

I think most of us experience this, “Ever run out of money before you receive your salary.” Did you try to figure out why we run out of money? There are so many reasons why we always run out of money. Possible reasons: you spend beyond your salary, wage is not enough, other members in the family are jobless, support in medicines are not in the budget and many more. These are some of the reasons Christians think why we experience inadequacy but let see the spiritual reason in it.

Our lesson came from the book of Haggai. Haggai spoke his message to the Jews who had returned to Jerusalem after living captivity in Babylon. As you recall Babylon had destroyed Jerusalem and Solomon’s temple some seventy years earlier. When the Jews returned from exile, they face the dishearten task of rebuilding. As years passed, slowly but surely, Jerusalem came to life again. Homes were built, stores opened, commerce established, field planted, crops harvested and life began to normal. Israel, however, got used to life without the temple. Now, God sends a prophet to stir them up.  He sent prophet Haggai to speak and in verse 7 says “Consider your ways.”

Sometimes Christians seldom think of spiritual reasons why people run out of money. Whether we like it or not and though it’s hard to accept there are spiritual reasons why we suffer. The previous reasons we mentioned earlier are part of sufferings we face but let’s think for now the spiritual reasons.

The Jews worked hard to wage more just like we do at this present time but prophet Haggai gave them warning. In verse 6 says,

“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.”

Though we work hard it’s still not enough, the verse says, “… to put into a bag with holes.” Let’s discuss this lesson titled, “A BAG WITH HOLES.”

LESSON PROPER:

   1)    THEY FOCUSED ON THEMSELVES (HAGGAI 1:6)

-         What does it mean with “A Bag with Holes?” Because they focused on themselves. Selfishness is always empty. Want to have an empty life? Then live a selfish and self-centered life where you are the center and focus of everything.  That is what verse 6 is saying.  That is the condition of literally thousands upon thousands of people today.  Making more money they ever thought or dreamed of making and yet are empty and so little to show for it.  Because selfishness is empty.  When we put ourselves first and use what God gives us to consume upon ourselves we come up empty.

        2)   THEY DISOBEYED GOD’S COMMANDS (HAGGAI 1:2)

-         There’s no true satisfaction in disobedience. If you are going to live a life of disobedience to God, do not expect satisfaction and fulfillment for it will not be there. You cannot walk in disobedience.  What were the reasons for these people for having the difficulties that they were having?  These are the same reasons we have today.  Whether we accept it or not, the Bible is true in its words; if we don’t give and give our tithes, the devourer comes and ruin our crops (Malachi 3:11).

-          Delayed Obedience.  Haggai 1: 2 says,

² Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the Lord's house should be built.

Reason that had holes in their pockets and the reason their crops were disappointing and reason that they were living dissatisfied lives, is because of a delayed obedience.  They did not say that was not right to do what God requested, or forget it, in fact they intended to do what God wanted them to do.  They intended to one day work on that building, intended to do exactly what God wanted.  They had become side tracked.  Preoccupied and busy making a living when God had said make a life.  Busy building their own things.  Found self-living a life of disobedience. God wanted them to rebuild the Temple but what did they say? They answered in verse 2, “The time is not come.” Their reason is the same reason we have now at present. Sure we are going to do right by God and serve God but the time is not right. 

a)      Well, I would tithe and give but not now because I’m out of budget for now

b)     Well, I would give and tithe but not now, the economy and earnings are not good in my small business today.

c)      Well, I would give and tithe but not now,  the money left  might need in the future,

No security anywhere else.  Not now, God not tied to the economy and obedience is never tied to the economy or anything else.  Simply should obey God.  Delayed obedience is simply disobedience.  All have intentions of serving God.  Time is always right to obey God.  Always be something to take the place of giving to God. If we keep on giving excuses to God, something will come up, hospital bill, car breaks, always be something.  What God is saying is that when you live in disobedience to God you live under the displeasure of God and never reach a point where it is right.  Time to obey God is now.  God wants you right now to obey. https://sermons.faithlife.com/sermons/7656-when-your-pocket-has-a-hole-in-it

        3)   THEY DISPLACED PRIORITY

God was to be their priority, but was not.  They offered excuses. They were like saying, “Lord we’re going to do it but time is not right.”  In verse 4 says,  

“Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste?

It seems that for God they had no time but they had time building their own houses.  They had built nice houses.  Living in comfort, and sitting in their recliners and yet they said they had no time. Are these same reasons, the same with us today in modern times?  God is saying in these verse, my work is more important than your work.  We don't have to accept it but what God says.  Seek first God and His righteousness.  So consider your ways, think about what you are doing.  Our ways reveal the state of our heart and soul.  We can say whatever we want in order to reason out for our disobedience but our ways reveal the truth.           

CONCLUSION:

When do not obey and priorities are mixed up and God is not first, here is what happens.  The results are withheld blessings.  Verse 9- 11 say

⁹ Ye looked for much, and, lo it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the Lord of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house.

¹⁰ Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit.

¹¹ And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the corn, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon that which the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labour of the hands.

Whatever you hold on to God, God says in verse 9 “I did blow upon it.” People think that riches give them security but whether they believe it or not God can blow it away.  What are we holding to?  Are our 400,000 acres, body (good health, houses, money, career or work, and things we own?  These are not worth to be holding because God holds everything. Verse 11 shows God is in control.  The bottom line is when you fail to put God first, then God will punch a hole in your pockets.  God said that. Never be able to make it up.   God always claims what is his.  Tithe is the Lord's.  All tithe. We make plenty of money by hard work but if we have more money, we also have more needs. Let’s listen to Haggai warnings, “CONSIDER YOUR WAYS.”

(Tagalog: Gunitain nyo ang inyong lakad)