BE READY TO CHANGE APPROACH

Look at the following statement:”Now, therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways” (Haggai 1:5). Other versions render the same words as “Think carefully about what you are doing”, and this seems like a fairly reasonable request. However, it takes on a much bigger place of importance when we realise the circumstances within which the suggestion was made.

"You have planted much but harvest little. You eat but are not satisfied. You drink but are still thirsty. You put on clothes but cannot keep warm. Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes!" (Haggai 1:6) 

Now, that beloved, is reason to worry. We can deduce that they were doing many things without results and yet they continued doing them. Whether that was out of pride or ignorance is beside the point, but sometimes the very fact that you have no results to show calls for a pause to think carefully about the processes and approaches currently at play.

In the parable of fig tree which had no fruit to show year after year, the vinedresser suggested to the vineyard owner when he wanted it cut down “leave it this year also and I will water it and manure it. If it bears no fruit the next year, you can cut it down”(Luke 13:6-9). A rethink of the approach to nurturing the fig tree was needed because there had been nothing to show for three years.

We really need to think carefully if there always no results to represent our efforts and hardwork, and we ought to be amenable to changing our approaches. Being firm is good, but sometimes flexibility is necessary.

#sly