The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Haggai 1:2-11, “Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘This people says, “The time has not
come, even the time for the house of the LORD to be rebuilt.”‘”
3Then the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying, “Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses while this house lies desolate?”
5 Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts, “Consider your ways!
6 “You have sown much, but harvest little; you eat, but there is not enough to be
satisfied; you drink, but there is not enough to become drunk; you put on clothing,
but no one is warm enough; and he who earns, earns wages to put into a purse with
holes.”
7 Thus says the LORD of hosts, “Consider your ways!
8 “Go up to the mountains, bring wood and rebuild the temple, that I may be pleased
with it and be glorified,” says the LORD.
9 “You look for much, but behold, it comes to little; when you bring it home, I blow it
away. Why?” declares the LORD of hosts, “Because of My house which lies desolate,
while each of you runs to his own house.
10 “Therefore, because of you the sky has withheld its dew and the earth has withheld
its produce,
11 “I called for a drought on the land, on the mountains, on the grain, on the new wine,
on the oil, on what the ground produces, on men, on cattle, and on all the labor of your hands.”

It was a different time. The focus of the people in Haggai’s day was considerably different
from that of our time. Yet, the LORD is the same; and to a great extent, we are not unlike
the people of Haggai’s day. They recognized that their physical things had come from the LORD; but they were not spiritually focused on Him and His desire.

They had allowed the LORD’s House to fall into disrepair. There are, of course, places
of worship that today have need of repair. Yet, the physical is not primary. The LORD’s directive in Haggai’s day focused on the spiritual aspects of His House of Worship. We
give serious attention to the physical aspects of the buildings, but often neglect the
spiritual aspects of true worship.

The heart-cry of the LORD is always appropriate: “Consider your ways!” Everything
we possess ultimately comes from the LORD. Why are we not satisfied? Why are we
not openly expressive of the LORD’s blessing? Why are we not more seriously focused
on His will and purpose for us? For everything we possess, we owe thanks to the LORD.

Take inventory of your life and possessions. What do you possess that does not bring
honor and glory to the LORD? What would He have you to do with it? Consider your
ways.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom