Whose House are You Building? (Haggai 1:1-15)
What are your hopes and goals for 2026? I’m sure many of us have priorities and plans for the new year. If you are in school, it might be a big exam you are studying for. Some of us may have work goals for the new year, whether it is a promotion, a different job, better work-life balance, or preparing for retirement. Some of us hope to improve our health. This is the year, we tell ourselves, to exercise more regularly, to eat more healthily, and to get more sleep. Some of us have plans for our relationships: to get married, to have children, to care for a family member, or simply to spend more time with our loved ones.
Whatever 2026 may have in store for us, the question I want us to think about is this: Where is God in our hopes and goals, in our worries and anxieties, in our priorities and plans? The beginning of a new year is a good time to take stock of how our walk with God is going. For this reason, we’ll be spending the first three Sundays of the year in the book of Haggai. “Building God’s house” is the theme of this sermon series. Haggai challenges us to consider whose house are we building?
To better understand Haggai’s message to us today, some background about the book is helpful. Haggai may be unfamiliar to some of us. It is one of the twelve Minor Prophets in the Old Testament. “Minor” does not mean unimportant; it just means their writings are shorter than major prophets such as Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel. Along with Zechariah and Malachi, Haggai is known as a post-exile prophet. Haggai was written after the people of Judah had returned from exile in Babylon. What is the exile and why did it happen? Here is a quick summary of the OT story so far: God redeemed His people from Egypt and gave them the promised land. God’s people were saved to worship and glorify Him by living as His holy people. God said He would dwell with them. The temple was built in Jerusalem as a sign of God’s presence.
Sadly, Judah turned away from God and worshiped idols. Therefore, God brought judgement. Judah was conquered by Babylon. The temple was destroyed and the nation was exiled from the land. But despite the people’s faithlessness, God remained faithful to His covenant with them. In time, the Babylonian empire fell and the Persian empire took its place. God raised up Cyrus king of Persia, who permitted the Jews to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the city and its temple. They got to work. The foundation of the house of the LORD was laid in the year 536 BC. Read about this in Ezra 1-3.
But the returned Jews soon faced opposition, which forced them to stop work (c.f. Ezr 4). When Haggai speaks his prophecy, it is already 520 BC. More than 15 years have passed, and still the rebuilding has not re-started. The temple is still in ruins. Why did the rebuilding stop? The Jews were discouraged by difficulties. They were also distracted by the demands of life. After the initial enthusiasm of returning from exile, the hard realities of life soon set in. The Jews became more concerned with their own livelihoods than with the things of God. They needed a wake-up call. So, God sent the prophets Haggai and Zechariah to encourage the Jews to build God’s house.
This is a message for us today. How have the difficulties and distractions of life drawn us away from God and His work? How have we become comfortable and complacent, too caught up with the here and now? God may not be entirely absent from our plans and priorities, but maybe He has been relegated to a footnote or an afterthought. We pack our lives then try to fit God in if convenient. Whose house are we building? How will we put God first?
God’s goal in Haggai is to encourage His people to build His house by rebuking them in the present and refreshing them with hope for the future. We see this In Haggai 1, where God confronts and comforts. This is the big idea: Put God first, for He is with us.
We will unpack this in two points: (1) God confronts; (2) God comforts. Are we fainthearted? May God’s word encourage us. Are we weak? May God’s word strengthen us. Are we idle? May God’s word admonish us.
God confronts: Consider our ways (Haggai 1:1-11)
Urgent calls to action often come with timestamps to keep track of progress and deadlines. This is the case for the book of Haggai. It is only two chapters long, but it contains five timestamps. The first of these is found in Haggai 1:1. It is the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month. This allows us to be quite precise in dating when God spoke through Haggai. It is around August or September of 520 BC.
The clock is ticking for the rebuilding of the temple. Jeremiah had prophesied that Judah’s exile would be 70 years long from the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC. The Jews may have returned to the land, but as long as the temple remains unbuilt, the exile cannot be considered as truly over. Sixty-six years have passed. There are four years left to rebuild the temple. And still the people have not started work.
Why does it matter that the temple is rebuilt? It matters because of God’s presence and promises. The temple represents God’s presence with His people. Despite Judah’s past sins, God has not forsaken them. A rebuilt temple is evidence of God’s grace and mercy. He patiently perseveres with His people. God is still their God; they are still His people. The temple also matters for God’s promises. God had promised David that His descendant would build God’s house, and that His descendant’s kingdom would be established forever. The temple is proof that God remains faithful. By rebuilding the temple, the people would show their devotion to God, and their faith in Him.
But God’s people have lost sight of the temple’s significance. More than that, they are dragging their feet about the things of God. In Haggai 1:1-2, the LORD brings His complaint about the people to their leaders, Zerubbabel the governor and Jehozadak the high priest: “Thus says the LORD of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the LORD.” Notice how God calls them “these people”, not “my people”. It’s a stinging rebuke. If they were truly God’s people, they would care about His house. These people do not oppose the rebuilding of the temple; it is just not the right time, they say. The sixth month was harvest time. There was work to do. Life was too busy. What’s more, didn’t the surrounding nations oppose the rebuilding in the past? The Jews did not want to get into trouble with the Persian authorities.
What excuses do we give for putting God off? It is not a good time, we say, so we postpone following Him. Life is too busy. There is school, work, and family to worry about. Let us wait for the exams to end, for work to slow down, for the kids to grow up, for retirement. We keep waiting for the right time but the right time never seems to come. How do difficulties and distractions dull our devotion to God? Do not delay your devotion to God. Do not let another year pass without returning to Him.
But unlike His lukewarm people, God is not indifferent to them. He loves His own too strongly to let them quietly drift away. God will not let us go on ignoring Him. So, God confronts His people directly in Haggai 1:3. He had been silent for much of the exile. But now, God’s word is heard again. Revelation is a gift from God, who takes the initiative to speak to His people. Today if you hear God’s word, do not harden your heart. The word of the LORD comes to Haggai the prophet in five oracles over a four-month period. In the first of these, God says to the people: consider your ways. He says it twice (Haggai 1:5, 7) for emphasis. Think about how we are living. Reflect on the condition of our hearts before God.
Busyness is not the root of the problem. It is not that they have no time; it is that they have no time for God. The people have become worldly, living only for the cares and pursuits of this life. God exposes the emptiness of their excuses in Haggai 1:4 — “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your panelled houses, while this house lies in ruins?” The question cuts to the heart. The people claimed it was not the right time to rebuild the temple, yet they were happy to make time for their own interests and concerns. They lived in nice, comfortable homes, while God’s house languished. “Panels” can refer to either decorative walls or the roofs of the houses. Are we caught up pursuing earthly success, comfort and pleasure, while neglecting the things of God?
As Jesus said, where our treasure is, there our heart will be also.
The problem is not merely a lack of time; the deeper problem is self-centredness. Instead of putting God first, the people were preoccupied with themselves — their own passions and pursuits. We will make time for what we value. As Jesus said, where our treasure is, there our heart will be also. We will gladly give our hearts, our time and our energy to what we value. The people’s disordered priorities reveal a small view of God. How have we also taken God lightly? What worth do we ascribe to him? As we begin a new year, may we resolve to treasure God above all. To give us a big view of God, see how He repeatedly refers to Himself as the LORD of hosts. This title appears five times in our passage, and a total of 14 times in the whole of Haggai. This title highlights how God is the Lord of heaven’s armies. He is the Almighty God. Surely, He is worthy of our wholehearted worship! Is He our chief treasure?
Often, we do not realise how cold our hearts have grown towards God. So, He calls us to consider our ways. Realise that the things we give ourselves to cannot finally satisfy us. Look at Haggai 1:6. The people have sown much, and harvested little. God says: You never have enough; you never have your fill; no one is warm. Their savings seem to slip out of leaky bags. It is like the man who hoards his money, only to have inflation diminish the value of his savings. God Himself ensures that our self-centred, worldly pursuits will leave us dissatisfied and discontent. Listen to Haggai 1:9: “You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? Declares the LORD of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house.” In Haggai 1:10-11, God says He is the one who frustrates our efforts. It is like what Ecclesiastes says, “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity. What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?” (Eccl 1:2-3).
Living for ourselves will not make us truly happy or whole. The trouble and toil we experience is God’s merciful wake-up call, urging us to consider our ways. Do not drift further away from him. God humbles our pride and self-sufficiency. He calls us to put Him first. He invites us to trust Him, the almighty LORD of hosts, to provide. Take to heart Jesus’ words in Matthew 6: “O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
So, consider our ways and return to God. In Haggai 1:8, God calls the people to go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house for his glory and delight. Faith should lead to action. Repentant hearts will show in willing hands and feet. God is pleased and glorified by the obedience that flows from faith.
God comforts: He is with us (Haggai 1:12-15)
God’s word does not return to Him empty. It accomplishes His purpose: Wonderfully, the leaders and the people of Judah repent and return to the Lord. Look at Haggai 1:12 — “Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him. And the people feared the LORD.” In Haggai 1:2, the Lord had rebuked them by calling them “these people”. By forgetting God and neglecting His house, the people had distanced themselves from Him. But now, they remember whose they are — that they belong to God. Thus, they obey the voice of the LORD their God. Beloved, may we not forget our identity as God’s people. If we belong to God, let us live faithfully as his people.
The people feared the LORD. Beholding God’s glory and greatness, they stop taking Him lightly. The path to repentance and renewal begins with a right view of God. When we see ourselves in the light of God’s holiness, we are convicted of our sins. To live for the Lord, we must know him as he truly is. He is the LORD of hosts. He is the holy God. He is the faithful God who makes and keeps his covenant with his people.
God will not leave us alone if we follow him. He is with us. He will enable us to do what He calls us to do.
If we return to the Lord, He will return to us. In Haggai 1:13, God encourages us to draw near to Him by assuring us of His presence: “I am with you.” God comforts us with the assurance that He is with us. He will never forsake His people. Judah’s difficulties and distractions had discouraged them from serving the Lord. But God assures them that He is with them to strengthen, sustain, protect and provide. God will empower and equip them to build his house. Beloved, God will not leave us alone if we follow him. He is with us. He will enable us to do what He calls us to do.
Even our repentance, faith, and obedience are gifts from the gracious God. Look at Haggai 1:14. It is the LORD who stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the people. The people came and worked on the house of the LORD of hosts, their God. They came without delay. Haggai 1:15 tells us they started work on the twenty-fourth day of the month, in the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king. This was just 23 days after God first spoke through Haggai. In just over three weeks, the people harvested their crops and organised the rebuilding. Their willingness to work is due to the Lord working willingness in them. All of it is only by the grace of God, not human merit or ability. It is God’s Spirit who convicts us of our sin and conforms our heart to God’s will. As the LORD of hosts says to Zerubbabel in Zechariah 4:6, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit.” It is God who works in us, both to will and to work for His good pleasure (Phil. 2:13) So, serve God with confidence, trusting in Him to work in and through us by His grace.
God will build His temple. And, he has promised to do so by being with His people. The returned exiles were to obey God by faith, trusting Him to keep His word. God called them to build His house in the hope of a greater temple where God would be with them in a more glorious way. During Christmas, we sang O Come, O Come Immanuel. This song expresses the eager longing of God’s people for God’s presence. God’s promise to be with His people has been fulfilled with the coming of His Son, Jesus. As God’s word says, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel (which means, God with us).” The Old Testament temple stood for God’s presence with His people. But it was only a shadow of the greater reality to come. The Old Testament temple anticipated a far more glorious temple, one not made by human hands. The true temple is not a building, but a person. Jesus is the true temple, for in Him the fullness of God’s glory is pleased to dwell.
This true temple was destroyed when Jesus was crucified. He died on the cross as a sacrifice for sinners like us. We have all been unfaithful to God, who made us for His glory. We deserve God’s judgement against us. But Jesus bore our guilt and shame, so that our sins can be forgiven if we follow Him. The true temple was rebuilt in three days when God raised His Son up from the dead. Jesus, the resurrected Lord, gives new life to all who repent and trust in Him.
The risen Christ is also the builder of God’s house. Unlike unfaithful Judah, Jesus is the perfectly obedient builder. Jesus is building a new temple founded on Him, for He is the cornerstone. This temple is not a lifeless structure made of brick and mortar. It is a spiritual house built out of living stones — of peoples from every nation, tribe and tongue who have been made alive in Christ. To be a part of God’s house, we must repent of our sins and believe the gospel. We must be joined by faith to Jesus, the cornerstone. In Christ, we are God’s house. We are being built into a dwelling place for God by His Spirit. The church is this new temple, built by Christ to display God’s glory.
Jesus said, “I will build my church.” (Matt 16:18). And, He calls us to be His fellow workers to build with Him. What an awesome privilege we have to build something that will endure for all eternity! The gates of hell shall not prevail against the church. How do we build God’s house today? Unlike the people of Haggai’s time, we are not called to build a physical structure. Now that Christ has come, God’s house is not a building but a people redeemed by Jesus’ blood. We build God’s house by building up God’s people. Put God first by seeking the good of His people.
Therefore, Jesus calls us to go and make disciples of all nations. And, just as the LORD promised to be present with His people in Haggai’s day, so the Lord Jesus promises to be with us even to the end of the age. Jesus is with us by His Spirit, whom He has poured out on the church. We have been entrusted with the work of gathering other living stones to build God’s house. We tell others about Jesus through evangelism and missions. This new year, let us resolve to share the gospel with others. Pray for opportunities to speak of Jesus to our family and friends. Join in with the church’s efforts to make Jesus known. For example, take part in visiting the residents of the HDB blocks in the neighbourhood. Teach English to migrant workers, or help with the outreach to the girls at Gladiolus Place. Point young ones to Jesus by teaching in the children’s or youth ministries. Pray with others for the unreached peoples in Singapore and beyond.
Beloved fellow members of GBC, we are God’s temple. So, build God’s house by building one another up in Christ. Our devotion to God should show itself practically in how we love and serve one another in the church. Stick around; do not rush off after service. Welcome one another, especially someone you have not met before. Speak God’s truth in love to help one another to grow in Christ. Talk about what God is teaching you through His word. When we gather as a church on Sundays, come ready to encourage someone else in the faith. Make time to cultivate deeper spiritual friendships with one another. Join a care group to help others follow Jesus. Meet up with others during the week to share our struggles, encouragements, and prayer. Disciple one another by reading the Bible or a good Christian book. Do life together. Do spiritual good to one another. Walk with one another through suffering and trials. Bear one another’s burdens. Confess our sins to one another, and spur one another on to repentance and faith, to love and good works. Show grace to one another. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another. Lord willing, we hope to plant a church in the next few years. Consider how God is calling you to build His house, whether in this local church or as part of a church plant.
Build God’s house by building your Christian life around Christ and His church. If you are member of GBC, then take an active interest in the spiritual wellbeing of your brothers and sisters here in this local church. We have covenanted to gather regularly and to be devoted to one another in brotherly love. If you are not a member of any local church, then can I encourage you to commit to joining a church? How will you obey God’s call to build His house unless you identify yourself with his people through baptism and church membership?
Whose house are we building? God confronts us to consider our ways. He also comforts us with the promise to be with us. Therefore, in this new year, let us prioritise Christ and His church. Put God first and build His house, for He will be with us.