Are You Moving in the RIGHT Direction?

Imagine you and God, sitting across from each other in your favorite restaurant. Casually He leans over and says, Let’s talk about your life. Are you moving in the right direction? You pause as you begin to take a quick self-inventory before answering this all-important question. How will you answer?

Consider Your Ways!

Consider your ways was a message from God to the people of Judah. The people could never get enough. Their efforts at life appeared to be an exercise in futility. It did not matter how hard they worked or how long they worked. The Prophet Haggai told them, “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you! You have planted much but harvest little. You eat but are not satisfied. You drink but are still thirsty. You put on clothes but cannot keep warm. Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes!” 

 

 

Why Was LIFE So HARD?

Let’s step back and look at Judah’s history. The Bible records that the children of Israel were God’s chosen people. They were comprised of 12 tribes. These 12 tribes of Israel split into two groups (Israel and Judah) shortly after the death of King Solomon. Both Israel and Judah turned away from God and began to worship idols – An idol is anything or anyone that you worship other than God or make more important than God. 

God punished Judah by allowing their enemies to capture them. The Babylonians captured Judah and destroyed the temple and Jerusalem. After 70 years of captivity, God spoke to the King of Persia who had taken over the Babylonian empire. He instructed the King to rebuild the temple (the place of worship) in Jerusalem. The King followed God’s command and allowed Judah to return to Jerusalem. Not only did King Cyrus allow Judah to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple but he also gave them the materials to rebuild and objects that belonged in the temple that had been taken by the Babylonians.

Once again, however, when the people returned from captivity, God no longer was the priority. His commandment to rebuild the temple slipped into obscurity as the people became distracted; eventually focusing on their own desires. And so, God sent the Prophet Haggai much like a pastor or priest today to warn the people – to let them know that God was not pleased with their disobedience. And as a result of their disobedience, they were suffering.

Your Self-Inventory

Are you like Judah? Or are you moving in the right direction? God’s command to consider your ways can be more clearly stated as, “Take a good, hard look at your life and then answer the question, Is God your priority?” What is your relationship with God? Are you moving closer to God or moving away from God or maybe not moving at all?

To be a Christian, one must confess and believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior. Then the next step is developing your relationship with God. Obeying God which means following His Word is key to the development of this relationship.   

And this is where many of us run into a problem. Just like Judah, we fail to obey. One day, Jesus was asked to name the greatest commandment. He answered, “The most important one is this: . . . Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”

Your obedience to God is the thermometer by which you can measure your commitment to the greatest commandment. When you love God with all that you are and all that you have, then you know He is first in your life. Your love for God will fuel your desire to grow closer to Him daily.

Now, Back to Your Conversation with GOD

Your Life? Are you moving in the right direction? Is there someone or something that you love more than God? Maybe your bank account? Social status? Your home or homes? Cars? Your job? Your children? Your significant other? Consider your ways!

 

Scriptures: Haggai 1 & 2, Mark 12:29&30

https://www.gotquestions.org/Israel-Northern-Southern-kingdoms.html

https://www.gotquestions.org/Babylonian-captivity-exile.html

God Has Spoken Ministry (GHSM); Celebrating God: The Father, The Son and The Holy Ghost!