Wages In A Bag With Holes

After 70 years under the Babylonian captivity (Jer 25:12), the people of Judah were allowed to return to Jerusalem and start rebuilding. However, the people of the land “troubled them in building” (Ez 4:4). So, they ceased from working and began to focus on rebuilding their own houses and farms. God confronted His people through the prophet Haggai, by telling them to “consider your ways” (v. 5)! Because they neglected to complete God’s house while they dwell in “cieled houses” (v. 4). But they were living in misery by not having enough.

 As if they were earning “wages to put into a bag with holes.” Sadly, this is also true to many professing believers today. They don’t experience God’s blessings in their lives, because they are hasty “to be rich” (Prov 28:20). Most of them are too busy building or adding to their earthly houses while neglecting to lay up for themselves “treasures in heaven” (Mt 6:20). They are like the people of Judah, who were not seeking God first (Mt 6:33), but they were putting their own priorities ahead of Him. The Lord gave them everything (Jms 1:17), but they didn’t give Him back anything!

They are robbing God by not giving a single penny of their tithes (Mal 3:10), and yet they are willing to spend lavish amounts on personal leisure and worldly possessions; which would eventually drown them “in destruction and perdition” (1 Tim 6:9)! Therefore, God will one day judge their idolatrous desires (1 Jn 2:16), and their “love of money” (1 Tim 6:10). As God’s children, He requires us to be faithful stewards (1 Cor 4:2). Obedience to Him will always yield a pure heart and a clean conscience (1 Tim 1:5). Instead of having a bag with holes, we will have a bag full of blessings! God bless you!

- Pastor Melito Barrera