Growing up in Indiana, I learned how to drive by cutting grass on my parents riding lawn mower and staying between the lines. When I turned 16 and six months old I took the driver’s test and passed with flying colors. I remember the day like it was yesterday. So I still don’t understand my wife, when she asks me, “Where did I learn how to drive?”
Shortly after I received my license, my Dad took be out shopping for my first car. We finally found the car we both liked. It was a bright yellow, two door, hatchback, four speed, and stick shift. On an earthly level, it was a dream car.
I kept that car clean every day. I decked out the interior with powder blue seat covers, a white leather wheel wrap and topped it off with a nice stereo system and speakers. It was a sweet ride! I kept it clean and you would probably have a difficult time finding a speck of dirt on it. However, as time went by my desire for keeping it nice and neat waned. I found distraction and distraction found me.
I was being pulled in many directions and lost interest in paying attention to the details of keeping my car clean on the interior and exterior. On an earthly level, it was only a car, but it has for me an even higher heavenly message….
In our lesson this past week, God’s people began rebuilding His temple at Jerusalem at Judah. They were excited, focused and determined to complete the temple. Gods’ big story was their big story. They worked together and it was going well for a while, but then they ran into distractions and discouragement from others and their attention began to dissipate.
They began focusing more on what they wanted instead of what God wanted. The Prophet Haggai said, “Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.” (Haggai 1:5-6 NIV)
They began falling further and further away from God and the focus was on their own self-interest. When we refuse to pay attention to the details of God’s plan. When our priorities become more important than the priorities of God, our lives become a big mess and ineffective. Ask yourself this question, “Is your story aligned with God’s big picture story?”
Resource(s): Personal Bible study, the story resources and the Bible (NIV)
