WHAT MATTERS MOST AND THE FOLLY OF AVOIDING IT (1 OF 8)
Scripture: Haggai 1:1-7
This content is part of a series.
What Matters Most and the Folly of Avoiding It (1 of 8)
Series: Getting Back to What Matters Most
Wyman Richardson
Haggai 1:1-7
Read Haggai 1:1-7
Fred Craddock tells a jarring story about a friend of his named Glenn Adsit this illustrates well what good priorities look like.
Glenn Adsit, a schoolmate from years ago, ministered mostly in China. He was under house arrest in China when the soldiers came one day and said, ''You can return to America.''
They were celebrating, and the soldiers said, ''You can take two hundred pounds with you.''
Well, they'd been there for years. Two hundred pounds. They got the scales and started the family arguments: two children, wife, husband. Must have this vase. Well, this is a new typewriter. What about my books? What about this? And they weighed everything and took it off and weighed this and took it off and weighed this and, finally, right on the dot, two hundred pounds.
The soldier asked, ''Ready to go?''
''Yes.''
''Did you weigh everything?''
''Yes.''
''You weighed the kids?''
''No, we didn't.''
''Weigh the kids.''
And in a moment, typewriter and vase and all became trash. Trash. It happens.
I suppose all of us get the point. The Adsits were given the gift of a shocking moment of perspective and priority. They suddenly understood and, in that moment, there was no question. Everything else becomes trash in the face of what really matters!
The book of Haggai tells the story of how God's people were given a similar gift of clarity. God used a prophet named Haggai to bring it about. My prayer is that, as we study this amazing little book, we too will have a moment of shocking clarity!
First, however, we need to understand what is happening. The book of Haggai makes real sense only when we understand the historical context surrounding it. Probably the easiest way to get at this is to highlight five important moments in Israel's life that set the scene for this book. They are:
606 and 597 BC - Baby ...
Series: Getting Back to What Matters Most
Wyman Richardson
Haggai 1:1-7
Read Haggai 1:1-7
Fred Craddock tells a jarring story about a friend of his named Glenn Adsit this illustrates well what good priorities look like.
Glenn Adsit, a schoolmate from years ago, ministered mostly in China. He was under house arrest in China when the soldiers came one day and said, ''You can return to America.''
They were celebrating, and the soldiers said, ''You can take two hundred pounds with you.''
Well, they'd been there for years. Two hundred pounds. They got the scales and started the family arguments: two children, wife, husband. Must have this vase. Well, this is a new typewriter. What about my books? What about this? And they weighed everything and took it off and weighed this and took it off and weighed this and, finally, right on the dot, two hundred pounds.
The soldier asked, ''Ready to go?''
''Yes.''
''Did you weigh everything?''
''Yes.''
''You weighed the kids?''
''No, we didn't.''
''Weigh the kids.''
And in a moment, typewriter and vase and all became trash. Trash. It happens.
I suppose all of us get the point. The Adsits were given the gift of a shocking moment of perspective and priority. They suddenly understood and, in that moment, there was no question. Everything else becomes trash in the face of what really matters!
The book of Haggai tells the story of how God's people were given a similar gift of clarity. God used a prophet named Haggai to bring it about. My prayer is that, as we study this amazing little book, we too will have a moment of shocking clarity!
First, however, we need to understand what is happening. The book of Haggai makes real sense only when we understand the historical context surrounding it. Probably the easiest way to get at this is to highlight five important moments in Israel's life that set the scene for this book. They are:
606 and 597 BC - Baby ...
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