Haggai 2:4 (KJV)
“Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the LORD; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the LORD, and work: for I [am] with you, saith the LORD of hosts:”
This Old Testament prophet, Haggai by name, had the qualities of a good pastor. He was an encourager who spoke words that were attuned with the mind of God and toward the hearts of the people. He shows up during the time when the rebuilding of Solomon’s temple was neglected for sixteen years. Haggai found three issues that plagued the people, the same problems that are common to all people, even those living today; disinterest, discouragement and dissatisfaction.
The people had grown disinterested in rebuilding the temple after being ridiculed (bullied) by their enemies. They became more concerned about building beautiful homes for themselves rather than rebuilding a temple to the Lord (1:1-15). They became discouraged by the gloomy words of some of the older returning exiles who had seen the glory of Solomon’s temple and told the young builders that nothing they could do would compare to it. So disillusioned were the spirits of the younger people that they stopped working.
The third problem he encountered was dissatisfaction. (2:10-23). Today, we might call it a desire for immediate gratification. His goal was to inspire the priest Joshua, the prince Zerubbabel and the people to come together, to get over it and to start working again.
Haggai could have said to their disinterest, “Don’t worry about what people think, ‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways…’” (Isaiah 55:8); to their discouragement, he did tell them that the Lord said, “…, The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former” (Haggai 2:9); to their dissatisfaction, they needed to understand that the temple would be rebuilt in His time, not theirs; “one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day (2 Peter 3:8).
What he did say summed up all of the above verses; “be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the LORD, and work: for I am with you, saith the LORD of hosts.” These words reinvigorated the priest and motivated the people to obey the Lord’s command and complete the rebuilding the temple…, that only took five years.
The text has some lessons in it for us too; never let anybody steal your enthusiasm! What may seem impossible does not mean it is impossible! Just because it has not happened, does not mean that it will not happen! If you believe it, you can achieve it!
Whatever your task, let neither disinterest, discouragement nor dissatisfaction stop you from its completion. Always remember that it was the Lord God who bought you to it and He will bring you through it! So, get over it!
Be Blessed +++
Rev. J. Loren Russell is an associate minister at both Goodwill and The Greater Universal Baptist Churches in the Bronx, President/CEO of The JLR Company for Church Financial &. Strategic Consulting, and hosts “Matters of Faith – The Radio Show” on Soul 1 Radio, Mondays 8:00 – 10:00 PM. Listen by phone at 626-226-1448. Be sure to Friend “Matters of Faith” on Facebook and email us at mattersoffaith.mof@gmail.com. Order your copy of Matters of Faith: The Book at Book Blues.
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