Now that we've gone through the first verse in the book of Haggai, I'd like to take a few verses at a time. If you haven't read the first post I wrote on this series, read it here. We're going through Haggai 1:2-4 in this post: "Thus says the Lord of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord. Then the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?"

Have any of you found yourself sitting in a prolonged vegetative state on the couch or your bed or wherever you find most comfortable? I know this happens to me on occasion and, while it can be fun for a while, you suddenly realize that you've become miserable and didn't even know it! Now I don't mean the kind of rest that is necessary and good, just the kind that goes on for way too long and gave no benefit. Sure, you thought you wanted to just do nothing for forever because of school or work, but all of your temporary joy from slouching on the couch is suddenly stolen and you're left only with a frown. You didn't get the tasks done that you wanted to do and you probably reneged on a promise you made to someone. All of the remorse that I feel in that moment, I believe, can be traced back to this one point: We are designed to put God first, not ourselves.

If you are anything like me, I can - at times - become very self centered. In those moments, I mumble and grumble and maybe even shoot a harsh word or ten at someone close to me. In those moments, if I am correct, I am putting myself first and, in doing so, am operating my life incorrectly. In this wonderful human operators' manual known as the Bible, we see very clearly that it is never good to anchor ourselves in a self-centered, self-indulgent position and try to force everything else to orbit around us. I believe that these few verses point to Israel's self-destructive, self-pleasing actions over a period of time. As we will see in the rest of the chapter, this has lead them all into a very negative and difficult position.

However, for right now I'd like to propose a higher, better, more joyous and satisfying alternative: We are meant to center our lives and passions around something greater than ourselves. While this still seems counter-intuitive to me at times, the calling deep down compels me to believe it over and over again. I see this same deeply seated desire in everyone from the quietest introvert to the craziest celebrity and it amazes me how few people turn to God to be their center.

I believe that many times we are like the Israelites in these few verses. We build up our own comforts and purpose without first setting God front and center in our lives, and we suffer mightily because we are not meant to live like that. I ask for you today to build God's temple in your lives; the temple in your heart needs your attention. God is not content to play second string to your desires and you will never be truly enraptured in divine joy until he is right there at the apex of your thoughts and desires and actions.

If you want to feel a deep desire in your heart for God, pray this with me today: "God, I want you to be at the center of it all. I admit that I cannot make this happen by willpower or any other means. I admit that I need your help to build your temple up in my heart and mind. I trust that you are working in me as I continue to seek your face. Please don't let me stray from you, as I will never find real satisfaction and pleasure outside of you. Plant within me the seeds of passion for you today and grow them into a mighty flame for you. Amen."

For the next post in this series, click here.