The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1940-06-13
URGES THE BUILDING
OF GODS HOUSE

OF GODS HOUSE
LESSON TEXT-Haggai 1:2-12.
GOLDEN TEXT-And let us consider one
another to provoke unto love and TO good
works: not iOrsalsing the assembling of our
selves together, as the manner Of some is.
Hebrews 1924. rs.
Religious work-or, more correct
ly stated, Christian works. a diff
ficult and discouraging task, except
for the grace and blessing of God.
Not only does the Christian worker
have to struggle against that arch
enemy Of God and of the souls Of
men, Satan himself, but he must
overcome the deadly indifference
and carelessness of men both out
side and inside the Church. Then,
as if that were not enough, he finds
another enemy, the encouragement
of his own heart.
Haggai ministered to the Jews
who had returned from captivity
and who had begun to rebuild the
temple. Opposition had developed
before they had made more than
beginning, and they at once gave
up and turned their interest to their
own affairs and the building of their
own homes. God was displeased by
this sinfulness on their part, and
brought judgment upon them
through a prolonged drouth. Haggai
was called to awaken their con-
science and to encourage them to
action.
/. Consider Your Ways wv. 2-6.
GID.
1t was not necessary for the
prophet to work up any eloquent
plea to stir the conscience of the
people. He had only to point to
their own ways. They were thus
faced with three reproving facts.
1. Indifference ". q. They were
negligent and Indifferent, saying the
time had not come to build. The
same kind of folk today are very
sure that the congregation simply
cannot afford to keep up preaching
services, or heat and light the
church for Sunday School
2. Selfshness ". ~. They built
for themselves ceiled houses and
lived in luxury, while Gods house
lay waste. One is reminded of our
own communities, which have
money for every conceivable COM
fort and convenience, but only few
niggardIy pennies for Gods work.
3. Loss Wv. 6, 9-1I. Being stingy
toward Cpd is a losing business. He
has only sto withhold His blessing
and we will find ourselves destitute.
That is true in the physical realm
and is even more true in the spir-
itual life. Withholding from God
will always result in loss (see Prov.
1928.
II. Build the House" ". 81.
Gods work is constructive. He
may have to destroy and tear down,
but He only takes away the old and
undesirable that the new and worthy
may be built. Three words stand
out here.
/. GO" The Lord wants His
people to get into action. Haggai
was interested in getting things 60
ing. Let us follow his example.
2. Bring" We are not to come
to the Lords service empty hand
ed. Only as He blesses do we have
anything to bring, but often we fail
to bring even that which He has
supplied.
8, Build" Gods work is COM
mitted to us. We are to be His
builders.
III. "The People Obeyed" ". 12).
Behold, to obey is better than
sacrifice, and to hearken than the
fat Of rams" Il Sam. 1929. God
is looking for obedient people, and
is ready to bless and use them. The
response to Haggai's message came
from
l. The Governor. One wonders
what progress America would make
back to God if its rulers were to
lead us in obedience to His COM
mands and in seeking His face in
repentance and prayer. Thank God
for every truly spiritually minded
national leader, and pray that 9TH
ers may yield themselves to the con-
troll of the Lord. Then came
2. The High Priest. All too often
religious leaders have actually him
dered the work of God-and what a
hindrance they can be! We read
that in Haggai's time the high priest
obeyed. Christian leaders, are we
too going before our people in I'M
questioning obedience to God? If
not, why should we not begin now?
With such leadership, we are not
surprised to hear that
3. The People Also Obeyed and
Feared God. Many capable Chris
tian workers believe that the youth
of America of our day, far from
being worse than their fathers, are
actually seeking for real spiritual
leadership.
False CElristS Shall Rise