May 18, 2024

Selfish?

Over the last several devotionals, we have been looking at the cause of spiritual drought. In today’s devotional, I want to look at selfishness as a cause of spiritual drought.

Selfishness is where I am focused on my own interests rather than the needs of others or of furthering God’s Kingdom.

In Haggai 1:4–6, 9–11, God says,

“Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?” Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: “Consider your ways! 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… 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. Therefore the heavens above you withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its fruit. For I called for a drought on the land and the mountains, on the grain and the new wine and the oil, on whatever the ground brings forth, on men and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands.”

They were investing everything in themselves and their homes, but not a thought was given to God’s house or God’s Kingdom.

Friend, if you want the rain to fall, you need to think about God and His house first, others second, and yourself third. It is like the old saying, “If you want joy, j–o–y, it’s Jesus, others, and then you.”

Read previous devotionals

September 11, 2024

Stop the Worry

Over the last few devotionals, we have been talking about trials and how we should respond. Today I have a simple but important word for you directly from God’s Word:...

September 10, 2024

Keep Laughing

I want to head back to 1 Peter 1:5–7 again today. Something tells me we could all continue to use the encouragement of Peter’s words, especially the advice I want...

September 9, 2024

Keep Trusting

In the passage we looked at yesterday, Peter encouraged us to see the trials we face as temporary, something that only lasts for a while. I want you to read...