I'm Fixin a Hole

“Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. 6 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).

In 536 B.C., the people of Israel returned to Jerusalem after their captivity in Babylon. Their initial task was to rebuild the temple of the Lord; however, they quickly became discouraged with their situation. Instead of focusing on the temple, they devoted their time and resources to their own homes. In fact, they used the cedar intended for the temple to construct their own houses. As a result, they neglected the temple of the Lord for fifteen years. God asks them, "is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?" (Haggai 1:4).

The essence of the passage is that the "purse with holes in it" symbolizes our own desires that take precedence over God's teachings. This raises an important question: "Is the work of the Lord central to our lives?" Are we genuinely and purposefully investing in advancing God's kingdom, or are we merely giving tokens to Him with our leftover disposable income?

We spend more on entertainment than any previous generation. In fact, we have gone beyond spending what we earn and into credit debt to support our addiction to self-indulgence. The danger of relying on credit is that it obscures how far beyond our means we truly are. Today, the average cost of a new car in the U.S. exceeds the amount Christopher Columbus spent to equip and undertake his maiden voyage to the New World. So, where am I going with this?

God made a profound point to Israel by comparing their homes to His. Similarly, Jesus stated in Matthew 6:21, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” This message is just as relevant to us today, especially during challenging times. Even when finances are tight, are we prioritizing our own needs over the needs of the Kingdom? The question is straightforward.

How often do we consider the work of the Lord when making financial decisions? True investment involves giving to something larger than ourselves, as it ultimately brings greater rewards to our lives. When we fail to invest in something greater than our own interests, we risk becoming insignificant.

There are fundamental motivations for giving: those who give all they can and those who keep as much as they can. What lies at the heart of the matter is our devotion, either to our Lord or to ourselves.

Our children need to witness the importance of our faith through our actions. The local church plays a vital role in spreading the Gospel throughout our city. The influence we have on our neighbors stems from our own spiritual lives. This is our responsibility, our community, our crime rates, our issues with homelessness, and our less fortunate—this is our Jerusalem. We are the salt and light of this generation in our city. I believe we will rise to the challenge of being good stewards, continuing to spread the Gospel through dedicated and joyful giving.

Are we earning our wages only to put them into a purse with holes? Or, are we seeking the Kingdom first with our time, talent, and finances? God is asking about the condition of His Temple, that’s you. Not the condition of your self-care.