I read a verse the other day that made me look at the bottom of my purse. You see, as a woman, I’ve always been on the quest for the perfect purse. Ladies, I know you know what I’m talking about here. You know, the perfect bag to carry all my stuff in. (Guys, you too may identify – a comfy money belt, the perfect wallet, bifold, trifold, or a rubberband?) I’ve always sought the perfect design. One that’s not too big or too small. One that’s not too heavy but has substance. One with two straps or one with handles? A backpack or a purse on wheels? Cloth, pleather or leather? As I age, I’m not opposed to one that has built in pockets to keep my stuff organized like you see on those infomercials. It’s funny that the definition of purse is really a “small” bag, pouch or case for carrying money. We use them as small suitcases. Anyhow, regardless of how much I search for the perfect purse (I’ve stopped looking by the way) there’s just not one out there. The problem? No matter how big, small, etc., everything always falls to the bottom. When you reach for something in your purse it’s like diving into the bottomless pit, right? Sometimes it’s two arms, your head and a flashlight in to find those coins in the bottom. Since everything goes to the bottom, what happens if your purse is worn out and has a hole in the bottom?
Sell all your belongings and give the money to the poor.
Provide for yourselves purses that don’t wear out,
and save your riches in heaven,
where they will never decrease, because no thief can get to them,
and no moth can destroy them.
Luke 12:33-34
This made me think that for many years, I had been searching for the wrong purse and the wrong design. I’d been looking for a purse to carry all my earthly junk in, my treasures, my money. You see most, many, all of my earthly treasures, junk, mean nothing if they are not used for Kingdom purposes. As believers everything we do, say, have, have not, should be about the work of the Kingdom. We may say we’ve worked hard and we deserve this trinket, this new outfit, this new car, this vacation, this whatever, but that’s a huge lie that we have been told by the evil one and we have bought it hook, line, and sinker. If we look at who God is and then look at who we are, if we’re honest, we will begin to see that everything we are, everything we have is a gift from Him. We deserve nothing and can earn nothing. If it’s from Him, it should be used for Him. Should everything then not be used for the furtherance of His Kingdom?
So, are our investments in this world or in the Kingdom? We need to look at those worldly investments – time, money, junk, treasurers. I think the world (us) should shop for a new purse with a very different design. The one we have has a massive hole in it. Many things we had stored in that purse have fallen through the holes. It just might be time to change purses. It just might be time to sell our worldly stock and invest in the Kingdom.
Wednesday
Read the Book of Haggai. All two chapters. How we use our resources – time, money, treasures – reflects our priorities. List your top five priorities – be honest! Look at your list again and see if those priorities are in the right order. Do you need to reorder your priorities?
Thursday
Back to Haggai. Haggai was calling for the rebuilding of the Temple of the Lord. What seemed to be the problem with the rebuilding? (vs. 3-6) Are we putting our resources in pockets or purses that have holes in them? (vs. 6) Like the Jews, have we started out with the right priorities and then all of a sudden our list has been reordered and we don’t even know how? Has work somehow moved into first position? Has family somehow moved into first position? Has money somehow moved into first position? We must constantly evaluate the order of our priorities.
Friday
Look at Haggai Chapter 2. Are we sometimes afraid to move forward with God’s priorities because of the “dangers” of the world? “Dangers” being persecution, loss of friends, loss of worldly possessions. But look what God says in verse 4. What is His promise if we put Him first?
Saturday
Look at Haggai 2:6-9. More promises! What are the promises? Who is the Promise?
Sunday
Reread Haggai today. All two chapters. Write down two things you didn’t notice on your first read through on Wednesday. Spend time in prayer today specifically concerning priorities. Do we need to confess the wrong order of our priorities? Do we need to ask for forgiveness? Do we need to ask for God’s help in setting priorities? Do we need to ask God’s help in making Him first in our lives? How about we praise Him for being the One the only one to help us reorder our lives? How about we praise Him for choosing us to help Him fulfill His plans?
Monday
Look at Haggai Chapter 2 verses 10-19. Will our Kingdom work take care of our sin? What can wash away our sin? Only the blood of Jesus. How does His blood wash away our sin? Through our repentance and obedience. When we are obedient to His Word, what happens? See verse 19. While the seed is in the barn – before it’s even planted – His promise is to bless us when we are obedient to Him. The Lord has a way of blessing us even before we know we need a blessing.
Tuesday
Reread Haggai 2:20-23. What is the significance of a signet ring – look it up. What was God promising? Look at Matthew 1:12. The Book of Haggai is a lesson in getting our priorities straight. Are we providing for ourselves purses that don’t have holes? If we give God first place in our life, if we’re more concerned with His work and with worshiping Him, He will bless, guide and protect us. God is a promise keeper!