“Consider Your Ways”

by Micky Galloway

The theme of the book of Haggai is: “Build the Temple!” Sixteen years earlier (536 BC) about 50,000 Jews had returned under the leadership of Zerubbabel. This had been prophesied 150 years before by Isaiah, that a decree would be given by Cyrus allowing the Jews to go home after 70 years of captivity (Isaiah 44:24-45:7; cf. Jeremiah 25:11). Their first act was to erect the altar and to offer burnt offerings upon the altar (Ezra 3:26). They also gathered materials for the rebuilding of the temple, which they began in the second year (Ezra 4:1-24). Their enthusiasm however, was cooled when they met with opposition from the Samaritans (Ezra 4:2-5). A decree forbidding the work was obtained from Artaxerxes and so the work ceased. The house of God continued to lie in waste.

A sad condition developed in Israel. The zeal with which their labor was begun grew cold. These exiles had returned with high hopes and great expectations of happiness and prosperity. However, their hearts were not sufficiently motivated to endure the inward distractions and outward opposition to arise and build. Therefore, they grew less interested in the completion of the undertaking and they acquiesced with complacency to the enforced cessation of their great work. They learned to look upon the ruins of their holy house with a certain despondency and turned to the furtherance of their own personal concerns. They were more than content to leave the restoration of the temple to other times and stronger hands than theirs. Finally, the original decree of Cyrus was discovered and the interdict of Artaxerxes was stopped. Every assistance was now given to the Jews to carry out their original design. The work on the temple however, was not resumed. Even after the violence of opposition had been lifted, the people continued to be very indifferent to the work of rebuilding and had neither interest nor courage to set about it again. They seemed glad that they had an excuse to be idle. Interestingly enough, neither danger nor difficulty had prevented them from building their own luxurious houses. Regarding the house of the Lord, they said, “The time is not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built” (Haggai 1:2). God raised up Haggai, the prophet, to reprove them for their indifference and slothfulness in rebuilding the temple.

Haggai calls upon them to “consider your ways” (1:5,7). Literally, “set your heart on your ways.” They were to take a good look at themselves and consider what they had done since their return from Babylon. Their food, drink, and clothing was inadequate (1:6,9). They were not satisfied, nor did they have enough. They had wrong priorities; therefore Jehovah’s blessings had been meager. They had not reaped the kind of contentment and fullness from the Lord that they could have. Their failure to arise and build was due to their own weakness. They were careless about the matter (Haggai 1:2). Much good and important work is not done because it is put off. Remember, “the road to hell is paved with good intentions.” They were concerned about their own luxury and comfort (Haggai 1:4). Their attitude was “let us build our own houses before we talk about the Lord’s house.”

Many today have lapsed into the same lethargic spiritual condition, judging themselves righteous by what they don’t do. “Consider your ways.” A wax dummy will not lie, steal, listen to a dirty joke, but neither will he visit the sick, clean the building, teach a class, prepare for Bible study, attend a gospel meeting, or worship regularly. Think of what could be accomplished if all would “consider their ways” and follow the instructions of Haggai in chapter 2:4, “Be strong … and work.” The strength of Israel (as ours) was not in numbers (Deuteronomy 7:8-9; Judges 7; I Samuel 14), but “in the Lord, and in the strength of His might” (Ephesians 6:10). Yet, among so many professing Christians today are those who cannot see beyond their own little selves, and who imagine that a man’s chief duty upon the earth is to do the best for himself while “the house of God lieth waste.” What are we thinking about?

No one can travel along the path of life with any degree of success who does not first consider the destination of that path. The man who does not “consider his ways” is sure to come to grief. The man who rushes blindly on is certain to eventually fall into the ditch. If one is to be acceptable before the Lord, he must become intimately acquainted with his own ways. Paul said, “Try your own selves, whether ye are in the faith; prove your own selves” (II Corinthians 13:5). Without this self inspection one may not even realize his deficiencies. Are we continually examining ourselves that we might grow in our service to Him who loved us and died for us?

If the Israelites would “consider their ways,” and “be strong … and work,” they would enjoy the promise of the Lord, “for I am with you” (2:4). This should be enough to silence their fears. All our labor means nothing if the Lord is not with us. Jesus said, “… for apart from me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5). Yet, there is no task authorized by the Lord that is too big for us if we will but work. Paul said, “I can do all things in Him that strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13).

Israel could surely remember how the Lord had been with their fathers when they passed through the Red Sea, in all their wilderness wanderings, and in their conquest of Canaan. God had delivered them from Babylonian captivity. With all that history behind them, how could they doubt God’s promise now? How could they be so indifferent?

We have the same promise today (Matthew 28:20). Let us “consider our ways.” Setting our priorities right, let us “be strong and work.” Let us arise and build the house of the Lord.