When does God promise to bless our obedience? Is it when our obedience and diligence complete a project? Is it when we fulfill a promise made? If we promise to tithe our annual income will his blessing wait until the full tithe is paid?
No. Two times in the book of Haggai chapter 2 the prophet says, “from this day on” (verses 15 & 18). What day was he referring to? He was referring to the day they started laying brick upon brick as they laid the foundation of the temple, verse 18. It was not when they laid the final brick in completing the rebuilding of the temple. It was when they laid the first bricks in the foundation. God wants to bless us, but He waits for us to start doing first things first.
Why is it so hard for us to figure this out? Or, if we have figured it out, to just do it. Whatever it is God asks of us, beware of putting it off to do other things, even good things. This is especially true if the other things are primarily related to what will benefit us or fulfill our personal desires.
Always ask yourself, “What do I believe is to be first in God’s plan?” It might not seem to be very significant to us. We might be comparing what we are doing with what others have done or are doing. We might be discouraged by what we think God wants us to do. But if we start doing it, from that very day on God says in Haggai 2:19, “I will bless you.” Trust Him and obey Him.
You will see for yourself even as the Israelites did that the first thing God asks of you is to do first things first!
