CONSIDER YOUR WAYS
Haggai 1:5,7

Some times our actions are not consistent with our profession. 
We SAY God is #1 in our lives, but then we place him lower on our "list". 

This is what happened to the Jews who returned to Jerusalem from a 70 year captivity. 
They returned with great anticipation and enthusiasm. 
They began to rebuild the Temple. They quickly laid the foundation. 

However, opposition & adversity lead to apathy. 
The work came to a standstill. {EZRA 4:4,5} 

Meanwhile, the Jews began to build their OWN homes. 
". . . your ceiled houses . . ." 

The TEMPLE remained unfinished for 15 years! 

God raised up the prophet Haggai to encourage the people to re-arrange their priorities, 
and to FINISH what they started 15 years earlier. 


{EZRA 6:14} 


Lets examine our text: 


I. THE EXCUSE FOR DELAY - {1:2} 
· We can make many excuses for not doing God's will.
· {EZRA 4:1-6; 11,12; 21-24}


II. THE EXTRAVAGANT DISREGARD - {1:3,4} 
· Conflict of interest
· Put self-interest ahead of God's interest
· No time for God's house - plenty of time for their own.
· Drag feet to God's house - run to their own. {1:9}


III. THE EXHORTATION TO DELIBERATE - {1:5,7} 
· CONSIDER YOUR WAYS
· Many exhortations to "CONSIDER"
· {Ps. 8:3-4; Heb. 10:24; Heb. 12:3; Mat. 6:28; Lk. 12:24}
· LOOK - {1 Cor. 11:28 & Lam. 3:40}


IV. THE EXPERIENCE OF DROUGHT - {1:6, 9-11} 
· The harder they worked for SELF, the less they brought in.
· Failure to recognize that it was God "blowing" upon it.
· Maybe God is trying to get your attention??


V. THE EXPRESSION OF DELIGHT - {1:8} 
· Obedience delights God · Glorifying God - delights Him


VI. THE ENCOURAGING DECLARATION - {1:13} 
· ". . . I am with you . . ."