DCLM Daily Manna 7 March 2021 Devotional by Pastor W. F Kumuyi – Misplaced Priority

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TOPIC: Misplaced Priority (DCLM Daily Manna 7 March 2021)

TEXT: Haggai 1:1-15 (KJV)

1 In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, saying,

2 Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the LORD’S house should be built.

3 Then came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet, saying,

4 Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste?

5 Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.

6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.

7 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.

8 Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the LORD.

9 Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the LORD of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house.

10 Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit.

11 And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the corn, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon that which the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labour of the hands.

12 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him, and the people did fear before the LORD.

13 Then spake Haggai the LORD’S messenger in the LORD’S message unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith the LORD.

14 And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work in the house of the LORD of hosts, their God,

15 In the four and twentieth day of the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king.

KEY VERSE: “Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways” (Haggai 1:5).

MESSAGE:

Stinginess and holding back from God lead to poverty and closed heaven. People who find it extremely difficult to give to others or God often experience persistent penury, either financially, materially, or academically.

Also See: OPEN HEAVEN 7 MARCH 2021 – BE CONTENT II

The people of Judah had been in exile for many years. As they came back to build the temple, opposition from hostile enemies hindered them. As a result, most of the workers became discouraged, apathetic and unconcerned, even though the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem was the very reason for their return. Discouraged and despaired, the people left the temple of God to build their personal structures. Thus, the temple, a symbol of God’s presence, was abandoned. Judah’s problem was that of misplaced priority. They did not give God the first place in their hearts; so the works of their hands became unfruitful and unproductive.

Our core values and priorities in life are easily shown by the way we use our resources. These could be our time, money, talent or strength. We claim that God is number one in our lives, but we often consider Him last on our priority list. Many Christians refuse to pay their tithes and offering to God when they consider the circumstances they face, like overdue bills, house rent, car repairs, school fees, unexpected bills and other financial demands.

Earthly pursuits with no time to serve the Creator is a misplaced priority. Do not leave the ultimate and become a slave to the immediate.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: It is unwise to be preoccupied with the present and ignore the eternal.

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Numbers 1-2

DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.