How crass can you get? Such is the superficial and egocentric state of our culture. Retail panders to the baser elements of our sinful humanity. The Scriptures, on the other hand, confront us with the truth about our lifestyles and beliefs.

Haggai, the sixth century B.C. prophet, challenged those who returned from exile in Babylon about their commitment to the work of God. They were putting off rebuilding their place of worship. Their excuse was that the economy had not improved enough for them to afford it. In effect they were accusing God for not making them wealthy enough to give generously. Yet, at the same time they had been able to build themselves luxurious houses. God and his work and worship were not a priority because they spent lavishly on themselves. Such behavior exposed their hypocrisy. They were placing their personal goals, interests, joys and comfort ahead of the kingdom of God and his glory.

"Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?" (Haggai 1:4 NIV)

"While you've run around, caught up with taking care of your own houses, my home is in ruins. Because of your stinginess." (Haggai 1:9, The Message)

"You hope for much, but get so little. And when you bring it home, I blow it away - it doesn't last at all. Why? Because my Temple lies in ruins and you don't care. Your only concern is your own fine homes." (Haggai 1:9, The Living Bible)

We have such high expectations of our own lifestyles, we make plans for our own living expenses, our investments and how we spend our leisure time, and yet they don't last and they cannot completely satisfy. At the same time God's work and worship is shortchanged: "and you don't care." accuses the prophet. All you are concerned about is your own fine homes. What an indictment - can you see parallels between the sixth century B.C. and today? Human nature has not changed in 2,600 years.

Their complaints about the economy and their own prosperity was occasioned by poor harvests. But Haggai contradicted their excuses by arguing that their prosperity was affected by their wrong priorities. When people fail to put the work and worship of God first in their lives they will experience problems. When they make their own comfort their highest priority at the expense of God's work and worship, when they fail to seek first God's kingdom and his righteousness, they will experience adverse consequences. "Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it." (Haggai 1:5,6 NIV)

Nineteenth century English preacher, Charles Spurgeon pioneered many new Christian ministries including a college for pastors, orphanages, homeless shelters, outreach to various groups of workers and widows, distribution of Christian literature and support of missionaries. He never failed to challenge people to support all these needs. He commented on this passage from Haggai.

Churlish souls stint their contributions to the ministry and missionary operations, and call such saving, good economy; little do they dream that they are thus impoverishing themselves. Their excuse is that they must care for their own families, and they forget that to neglect the house of God is the sure way to bring ruin on their own houses. Our God has a method in providence by which he can succeed our endeavours beyond our expectation, or can defeat our plans to our confusion and dismay; by a turn of his hand he can steer our vessel in a profitable channel, or run it aground in poverty and bankruptcy. It is the teaching of Scripture that the Lord enriches the liberal and leaves the miserly to find out that withholding tendeth to poverty.

In a very wide sphere of observation, I have noticed that the most generous Christians of my acquaintance have been always the most happy, and almost invariably the most prosperous. I have seen the liberal giver rise to wealth of which he never dreamed; and I have as often seen the mean, ungenerous churl descend to poverty by the very parsimony by which he thought to rise. Men trust good stewards with larger and larger sums, and so it is frequently with the Lord; he gives by cartloads to those who give by bushels. Where wealth is not bestowed the Lord makes the little much by the contentment which the sanctified heart feels in a portion of which the tithe has been dedicated to the Lord. Selfishness looks first at home, but godliness seeks first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, yet in the long run selfishness is loss, and godliness is great gain. It needs faith to act towards our God with an open hand but surely he deserves it of us; and all that we can do is a very poor acknowledgement of our amazing indebtedness to his goodness. (C.H. Spurgeon, Morning by Morning)

We have been blessed with wealth. Most of us live in luxury. We live in fine homes. Many have added onto their homes or have built bigger homes as they have prospered. Many have more than one home. We have invested greatly in our children and grandchildren. We drive expensive automobiles. We wear lovely clothes. We dine at fine restaurants. We seek medical care at the best hospitals in the world. We are a pampered and privileged people who are enjoying the fruits of our labors and our good fortune.

St. Paul exhorts us: "Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life." (1 Timothy 6:17-19)

Jesus said the same thing: "Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be lso." (Luke 12:33,34)

Ted's blog may be found at www.ameliachapel.com/blog. His new book, SOUL FOOD, DAILY DEVOTIONS FOR THE HUNGRY, may be ordered from tschroder@ameliachapel.com @ $14.99 a copy plus S&H.