I’m wondering, does my work bring God pleasure? Do my current projects or the things I’m spending my time, effort, and energy on actually please the Lord?

Let’s hear from Haggai, a prophet to the Jews who returned to Jerusalem after being exiled. The year was 520 BC and Haggai delivered four short sermons.

In his first sermon, Haggai scolds the Israelites. “Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Give careful thought to your ways’” (Haggai 1:5). Nothing the people were doing was turning out right. They were short on food, clothes, wages, etc.

Then God told them precisely what to do. “‘Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,’ says the LORD” (Haggai 1:8).

Then we hear why God had not been blessing their work. “‘You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?’ declares the LORD Almighty. ‘Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house’” (Haggai 1:9).

The Lord’s house, the temple, was still lying in ruins. The foundation had been completed 16 years earlier but neighbors began to intimidate God’s people so they turned to work on their own houses instead.

What did God say would please and honor Him? It wasn’t a secret. God gave clear instructions: Go, bring, and build.

Today, we are God’s temple. 2 Corinthians 6:16 says, “For we are the temple of the living God.” God lives in the hearts of believers.

So, let’s consider the work we are doing. Is our goal to bring God pleasure or are we focusing on our own desires?

When Israel had a change of heart, the LORD “stirred up the spirit of the whole remnant” and the work on the Lord’s house began.

May we also be stirred to do the work God has for us to do.