I was reading Habakkuk the other day and I ran across these words in Habakkuk 1:4-10.
“Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?” 5 Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. 6 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.” 7 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. 8 Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,” says the Lord. 9 “You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house. NIV
The post exiled Jews had returned to Jerusalem and rebuilt their houses but in their indifference and ungratefulness, they had neglected the rebuilding of the temple. You would think they would have been so appreciative of their freedom that in a spirit of gratefulness they would have immediately been spurred on to start the work.
It didn’t take long for me to remember places where I have not been vigilant or only partially engaged in the affairs of the Lord:
· I tire of the constant cardboard signs of people standing at each street corner near my house begging for money.
· My mail box and email is overflowing with requests from good works seeking funds to continue their work.
· I shy away from the mentally ill that I come in contact with because I do not have the skills to engage them well. Walking on the other side of the street is just…. easier.
· I do not pray enough for our nation, injustice in my city, mission work or the unborn.
· My heart is not as pure as it needs to be.
· It has been too long since I wept over my sin.
God loving called me to give careful thought to my ways. Is it just me or do you need to do the same?
