An Alternative Perspective on Inflation from Haggai

Prices are sky-high. This is getting serious. What is going on?

I dislike saying that God is trying to do anything—as if God is making an effort to accomplish something but somehow falling short of His intended purpose. The nuance of how we say something does matter. For instance, I might say.

God is trying to get your attention.  But that statement inaccurately reflects on our omnipotent and all-wise Sovereign.

God is seeking your attention—are you listening?  That is better. He sometimes speaks in subtle ways, not because He cannot be more bombastic, but He speaks quietly, for His own greater purposes.

“Consider your ways” was God’s message to the children of Israel in the time of Haggai.  They had been given the incredible privilege of returning to Israel to rebuild the Temple of God under the blessing of Cyrus King of Persia.  He had even returned to them the vessels of the Temple stolen seventy years earlier by Nebuchadnezzar.  But they faced opposition—described in Ezra 3, eventually faltered, stopped building, and became distracted by their own priorities. The Temple remained unfinished and dormant for sixteen years.

You have sown much, and bring in little; you eat, but do not have enough;

You drink, but you are not filled with drink; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm;

And he who earns wages earns wages to put into a bag with holes. (Haggai 1:6) 

When we face economic hardship, we are always looking for boogeymen, and there is usually no shortage of reasonable candidates—the pipeline, taxation, regulation, and of course, democrats. These might be the temporal reasons for such problems. I am sure the Israelites had plenty to blame–bad seed, holes in the bag, not enough rain, etc.

But here, God is saying, “Stop and think about it.  I did this! It is not just poor choices, bad fiscal policy, or even just bad luck.  I am actively working against you.”

You looked for much, but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?” says the Lord of hosts. “Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house. (Haggai 1:9) 

Is it arrogance or spiritual deafness that would make us believe that God has nothing to do with the insanity both fiscal and moral that surrounds us? We live in a culture—and it characterizes the entire western world, not just the US—that in its rebellious insanity is committing suicide.

However, we usually have to get hungry and thirsty—literally—before we will listen.

Christian, it is time to consider your ways–you, not your neighbor or the person sitting in the pew behind you at church, not your neighbor. You.

Quit obsessing about Biden and Trump and take a deep look into your own life, your own choices, and your own priorities.  God was judging the remnant in Haggai’s day because their priorities were misplaced. They were more interested in their own homes, wealth, and security than God’s agenda. That is a sin. God judges that.

I was jolted to reality recently in a conversation with a missionary from our church who is now serving in a particularly violent country. He is committed to knocking on doors to tell people about Christ. However, where he lives kidnapping has become an industry. A person was kidnapped off the sidewalk adjacent to their church. His missionary connections make him and his family targets for kidnapping. A pastor friend of his was brutally murdered in the past few months. So, when they go out to knock on doors they vary their schedules and routes and are forced to not stay out too long so they do not draw too much attention to themselves. But they still go and God is blessing.  The church that he started less than two years ago now has nearly 30 families. People are trusting Christ nearly every week.

I bowed my head in shame. Don’t our excuses for not sharing Christ with others pale in comparison?

“It isn’t the right time.”

“I am too busy.”

“The kids have soccer.”

“It’s movie night”

“My favorite team is playing.”

“Video games, YouTube, Tick Tock, Instagram, Pinterest.”

God’s message to Israel in a time of economic stress was to stop, assess, and rethink their priorities—and remember that God is always speaking.

As you go to the ballot box tomorrow filled with angst and indignation, consider the fact that God has allowed the present mess for His purposes. Vote.  Vote your conscience, but don’t make this all about them.

Rethink your own priorities. Consider your ways.