Pockets filled with holes

I was reading during my morning devotions in Haggai and came across these verses in Haggai 1:5-6 (NLT) :

⁵ This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you! ⁶ You have planted much but harvest little. You eat but are not satisfied. You drink but are still thirsty. You put on clothes but cannot keep warm. Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes!

Who does this sound like to you?

I don't know about you, but I was struck with how much this sounds like a large portion of Americans.

Now I recognize that, in context, this scripture is about when God spoke through His prophet Haggai to Israel because the people were free and out of captivity, but had ceased to re-build the temple of God. In verse 4 He's even explaining that the people are living in luxurious homes while the temple lies in ruins. But I also believe that a principle can be lifted out of this situation.

Neglecting to re-build the temple is an awful lot like neglecting God. It just really hit me this morning as I was reading what a prevalent the situation is described in these 5-6th verses; how many people do you know who could say that they feel like they put their wages into pockets with holes in them?

As I read this I'm filled with gratitude that I don't have to live that way. I can honestly say that my family is never without all our needs met. By God's grace and direction in the Bible concerning money and possessions, giving, and debt I never feel this way. I'm always able to save and give.

Having said that however, there are also tons of things we don't buy or do that I see the people around me (the ones who would say yes they've got the holes in their pockets) buying and doing. There are also things we do with our money that the holes-in-their-pockets folks don't do.

The relevancy and usefulness of the Bible never ceases to amaze me!

Money and values

Church was incredibly practical today. It was about money.

Times are tough right now and a lot of people are suffering financially, losing jobs, losing homes; the government had to do that big bail out.

The sermon was about trusting God and being wise.

I'm so grateful to God for my husband and I's financial situation. If it weren't for the training I've been blessed to receive, I would not have had the sense to be able to be where we're at right now.

As we were driving home John & I talked about it. We just married 3yrs ago. Because we'd both sought for years to be debt free and live simply we came into the marriage with something to offer the other financially and we both had good jobs. We'd considered buying a beautiful (ego feeding) home in the area where I'd been living at the time. We'd looked at houses for months but neither of us had a peace about buying those homes so we didn't. Instead we moved up to this mountain paradise that God had for us and purchased an very modest home (the prior owners had used it as a vacation home) built in the 60s. The home has a lot of charm and appeal and the location is over the top - we go on a trail out our back door that leads up into the national forest. This home was modest enough that we could just plain buy it so we don't have a mortgage.

Now that the market had gone down the house wouldn't be worth what we paid for it but we aren't worried because we're not making payments anyway. After I by faith quit my job and moved here and took some time to be home with my sons for a year and a half, God opened up a job with a much shorter commute than I used to make. We've been able to do some work on the house, bit by bit, as we've had the money, to make it even better to live in. We continue to not be financially stressed and to have money to give to others.

This is a legacy I hope to pass on to my children.

One of my son's closest friends parents have a gorgeous home, new cars and their son always has the latest fashionable clothes. Whenever this son wants a specific video game or new type of cell phone, he gets it right away. Initially my son questioned why we don't have all that because he found it all so desirable. I explained that those aren't the things that matter most to me and I try to build my life around what really matters. Initially my son didn't get it. So I pray and hope that my example makes an impact.

Lately, my son is starting to come around. He's starting to see that it's important to have enough money so it's not always a stress and worry and it's important to work hard at something you enjoy, but that stuff really isn't all that important. That people are what matter most.

In a culture that is so dominated by money and things and how everything looks, it is challenging to live differently. I pray that God in His grace and goodness would continue to help me focus on what really matters. I pray that part of the legacy I leave for my sons is one of placing value where it really counts.

Financial Security

I think most Americans have it all wrong when it comes to financial security.

The most profound words on this topic that I can think of were some that Jesus had to say:

“If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.” (Matthew 6:32-34)

He said so much in these few words! Life isn’t about getting. Of course you can’t tell that when you turn on the TV and see the commercials or listen to the radio or drive down the freeway. We are bombarded with the idea that having stuff is where it’s really at. (BTW-ever heard George Carlin’s routine on Stuff. Very funny and true.) It’s as if we think that somehow our stuff gives us importance or happiness.

Not only do we, as a culture in America, think we need stuff, but then we go into debt to get it all! It drives me crazy. I’ve worked with plenty of people trying to help them get their finances in order. It always comes down to making a spending plan and just buying what they can afford and differentiating between needs and wants.

But Jesus went beyond that. He presents a whole different approach to life. He speaks of steeping your life with God-reality, initiative and provisions. What a better way to go!

I’m so grateful for God’s mercy and grace in my life. I mess up so much but He’s still good to me and I can always count on Him. In my career it’s a kind of underneath the surface knowledge that people who do what I do (licensed nursing home administrator) are sometimes fired quickly by companies to make situations go away. Let’s say a department of health surprise survey is going bad for a myriad of reasons, it’s always easy to say it’s that bad administrator’s fault and just fire him/her to buy time and get things in order. That bothers a lot of my colleagues immensely but it’s never stressed me. The reason is because God is my source and He blesses me with my job to use my talents/gifts/skills and provide for my family. But my real source for my family is Him. So I never have to be worried; I can just be obedient, do what I believe is right at work and leave the rest to Him.

Yep, Jesus’ way is definitely better.

I want to spend time meditating today more on His words here.