Haggai: A Message of Hope

Introduction:

Tom Landry, the former coach of the Dallas Cowboys, once told more than 2,000 students at Baylor University, "In 1958, I did something everyone who has been successful must do, I determined my priorities for my life - God, family, football." He had set his priorities in their order of true importantce: God first, then family, then everything else. That is the major difference between right and wrong priorities. Studying this lesson will help you to pursue God's agenda for your life and experience His fulfillment and blessing.

Background Passage:

Haggai 1:1-2:23

What this lesson is about:

Hope makes us secure in God's hands when we embrace godly priorities and live according to them.

Why this lesson is important:

It's easy to become enamored with our own pursuits and to miss our responsibilities in God's agenda. Pursuing His agenda, we experience His fulfillment and blessing. This study of the Book of Haggai presents hope. It will encourage us to examine our lives and rest securely in God's hands, knowing that He will abundantly bless us as we faithfully serve Him.

How this lesson can impact your life:

This lesson will urge you to find hope by reordering your priorities, conforming them to God's agenda.

Important questions as you read:

1. What are some rationalizations people use today to justify their selfish desires?
2. In what effort would God have you pour your time, energy, and resources that He might be glorified?
3. In what ways has God worked through you (past or present) to accomplish His purpose?
4. In this new year, what adjustments do you need to make in your priorities so that they will match God's agenda?

The Life Word

External pressures and internal discouragement work against right priorities, even God-given ones. The Jews experienced both and thus neglected building God's house. As they shifted their focus to what they wanted for themselves, their own houses became their top priority. We need to learn from their mistake.

*This lesson is taken directly from LifeWay Adults Personal Study Guide Winter 2012-13, LifeWords: Bible Studies for Life (KJV), January 27, 2013, pages 74-81.