Reboot: Perspective

Haggai 1:2-4 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “These people say, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the Lord’s house.’ ”  Then the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?”

People sometimes make funny choices.  One day, New Jersey resident Marie Murphy got a call that her house was on fire.  She left her job and rushed to her home to learn that both her husband and mother were safely out of the house.  But then she decided to run into her burning house to get her prized possession!  After fighting through the flames, she emerged moments later with her Philadelphia Phillies season tickets!  Sometimes we can make interesting choices when we lose perspective.  Certainly, the Phillies would have reprinted Marie’s tickets! 

In the book of Haggai, the people of God had also lost perspective.  After 70 years of exile, they returned to the Promised Land and began to rebuild.  They built the walls of the city and their homes, but they neglected finishing the Temple.  The temple was where God’s presence dwelt, and Haggai’s message was that this should be the highest priority.  God promised His peace would come when they regained a proper perspective. 

How about you?  In many ways, we have been living in a season of exile.  Some of us have lost perspective.  God promises us a greater glory when we refuse to be satisfied with material comfort.  Is there a chance that you have lost perspective? 

Take a few moments to read and reflect on the lessons learned in Haggai 1-2 and if you need to regain perspective today!