Devotions this week based on The Prophets Week 10 – Haggai (WATCH HERE)
“This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough… You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.’” — Haggai 1:5–6, NIV
Sometimes it seems like you are spinning your wheels. Have you ever felt like you are busy, but never get anything done? Do you perceive you are working hard but don’t see great results?
When work or life seems out of balance, it is a good time to take a step back and “give careful thought to your ways.”
At the time of Haggai the prophet, sixteen years had passed since the first group of exiles returned from Babylon to Jerusalem. They began with great zeal, laying the foundation of the temple and rejoicing at the prospect of restoring worship in God’s house. But opposition, hardship, and self-interest soon got in the way. The temple remained unfinished while everyone turned their attention to building their own homes.
God sent Haggai to confront their spiritual drift: “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?” (v.4). The people had good reasons — life was hard, resources were scarce, but beneath their excuses was a deeper problem: misplaced priorities.
The phrase “Give careful thought to your ways” (repeated twice in vv. 5 and 7) literally means “set your heart upon your path.” God wanted them to examine where their choices were leading. They worked hard but reaped little. Their lives were full of effort but empty of fruit. The more they chased comfort and control, the less satisfied they became.
Doesn’t that sound familiar? We live in a culture that prizes productivity, yet so many feel spiritually depleted. We fill our calendars, bank accounts, and social feeds, but still find ourselves hungry for meaning. Like Judah, we can build impressive “paneled houses” — careers, hobbies, reputations and neglect the inner temple where God desires to dwell.
Jesus echoed this same principle centuries later: “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33). The order matters. When God isn’t first, everything else unravels. When He is first, everything else falls into place.
Imagine hiking through the woods with a faulty compass. At first, you only drift a few degrees off course. It doesn’t seem like much, but after miles of walking, you’re completely lost. That’s what happens spiritually when our priorities shift even slightly from God’s purposes. We may not notice right away, but over time, our direction and our joy veer far from where we intended to be.
That’s why God lovingly calls, “Consider your ways.” It’s not condemnation; it’s an invitation to course-correct before the drift becomes a disaster.
Apply: Ask yourself: Where have I been building my “paneled house” while neglecting God’s? What receives my best time, energy, and resources? How can I make room for God’s priorities — worship, community, generosity — this week?
Prayer: Lord, I hear Your call to “consider my ways.” Too often I’ve chased my own comfort while neglecting the things that matter most to You. Forgive me for the times I’ve made my plans without asking for Your direction. Teach me to seek first Your kingdom and trust that You will provide what I need. Realign my heart and priorities today, and dwell at the center of everything I build. Amen.