Someone shared her story with me about how she and her husband built a bungalow for over thirty years due to their disobedience to God's instruction and inability to make God's work a priority. Back in the 80s, a woman of God informed her about their church building project and she told her to be part of it financially as instructed by God.

If I was in her shoes, I would have checked with the Spirit of God to know If it was God or flesh but she felt that was too much to ask so she cut off from the woman. That is what happens when stewards of God's resources begin to think like owners. They have forgotten that the resources with them belongs to God and he may ask for it when needed.

She recounted that the woman told her God already told her she won't yield and that was exactly what happened. She and her husband spent their money on their own building in the village instead of giving to support the Lord's work. It took them over thirty years to complete a simple bungalow that shouldn't have taken them few years. Disobedience and neglect of God's concern made them struggle.

What she and her husband did was akin to what the Jews did in the days of Haggai the prophet. They neglected the building of God's house and decided to spend on their own mansions. They abandoned the course of Yahweh and focused on themselves. Then, they began to struggle because they didn't put his interest first.

[5] This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you!

[6] 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!

Today, the interest of God is not primarily in buildings but souls of men. Redemption remains the priority of God. He is not happy that we are doing nothing about unreached souls.

Some have plans and budget for clothes, shoes, bags, and spend heavily on vanities but little or nothing goes to missions. How can we be so loved to the point of being saved by the blood and still do not show concern about those who are lost?

The lack of funding for missions and evangelism is not due to poverty on the part of God's people, rather, it is lack of priority. God has given believers and the church all the resources needed but souls of men isn't our priority.

Most times, when I see adverts for comedy shows and they call big amounts in millions for for VIP tables, I wonder If people really spend that much to pay someone to make them laugh momentarily while they return to their misery thereafter. How can we be comfortable spending to attend comedy shows but feel less concerned about the kingdom?

We have to re order our priorities. The popular mantra "Put God first" should not be on our lips only but should be seen in our actions even in our finances.