Seeking God’s kingdom first means having God’s priorities not our own

In seeking God’s kingdom, priorities need to be shaped by the ‘good news’ of what Jesus has accomplished in His death and resurrection, so people can become part of God’s kingdom. Other priorities often get in the way. In this passage we find that 16 years after the commencement little progress had been made. The leaders needed to be encouraged so that they could encourage others. The people were focusing on themselves and not the Lord.

God, however, is at work wanting to bring his people back to himself. He takes pleasure in them when they take their responsibilities seriously. In the New Testament the disciple Matthew records Jesus’ words … ‘seek first the kingdom of God.’ Because of wrong priorities, God called for a drought in Haggai’s time. The people responded (v12) and obeyed the message from the prophet Haggai. God then says “I am with you.’ (v13)

We can see a pattern here … God’s word is proclaimed, God’s people respond and God blesses their response. Likewise we are to respond rightly to God’s word. We are not alone.