Consider Your Ways: A Reflection on Haggai 1:4-5

Consider Your Ways: A Reflection on Haggai 1:4-5

In the book of Haggai, a powerful call to self-reflection resounds through the words of the prophet. The Lord of hosts declares, “Consider your ways,” not once but twice. This urges the people to pause. They are encouraged to think and realign their priorities. This exhortation is as relevant today as it was in the time of Haggai.

Haggai 1:4-9 paints a vivid picture of misplaced priorities. The Israelites have dedicated their time and resources to adorning their own “paneled houses.” These homes are luxurious and comfortable. Meanwhile, the house of the Lord remains desolate and in ruins. The prophet’s question strikes with piercing clarity. He asks, “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lieth waste?” It is a challenge to their—and our—sense of focus and commitment. Where have we placed our energy? Are our actions aligned with our professed values?

The consequences of their neglect are starkly laid out in verse 6: “Ye have sown much, and brought 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. He that earneth wages earneth wages for a bag with holes.” This haunting metaphor of a “bag with holes” captures the futility of pursuits disconnected from divine purpose. No matter how much effort is invested, the returns are hollow, fleeting, and unsatisfying.

Yet, the message of Haggai is not merely a rebuke but also a call to action. In verses 7-8, the Lord gives clear instructions. “Go up to the hill-country and bring wood. Build the house. I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified.” The divine directive is as much about physical rebuilding as it is about spiritual restoration. The people are invited to honor God by prioritizing His dwelling place. They should turn their attention from self-centered pursuits to God-centered obedience.

In our modern context, “consider your ways” remains a call to introspection. We live in a world preoccupied with material success, personal comfort, and ceaseless activity. How often do we pause to assess whether our priorities reflect our faith? Are we building our own “paneled houses” while neglecting the spiritual, the communal, and the enduring? The emptiness described in verse 6 mirrors the discontent of a life disconnected from its true purpose.

The command to “go up to the hill-country” invites us to act. It reminds us that faith is not passive but requires deliberate choices and effort. The Israelites were called to gather wood and rebuild God’s house. Similarly, we are called to align our lives with God’s will. We should invest in what brings glory to Him. We must create a space—both literal and metaphorical—where His presence can dwell.

Let Haggai’s words reshape our perspective: “Consider your ways.” May this be a moment to reflect, re-prioritize, and rebuild. Let us sow seeds of purpose. Let us drink deeply from the well of faith. Let us invest in treasures that will not fade. Only then will we find the abundance, warmth, and fulfillment that truly satisfy. These are gifts bestowed by the God who takes pleasure in our devotion. He is glorified in our obedience.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace. Believe, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit, you may abound in hope.

Blessings,

Minister A. Francine Green