A Disappointing Harvest

God’s prophet, Haggai, asked his fellow-Jews to reflect on their puny harvest:  

You have planted much, but have 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. (1:5f)

Why were these frustrated people plagued by the proverbial “hole in the pocket?” God explained: "What you brought home, I blew away. Why? Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house." (1:9f). As the Jews returned from captivity in Babylon (6^th century B.C.) and began the rugged task of rebuilding their shattered nation, they became consumed with their own homes. They had gone beyond providing shelter—they now lived in “paneled houses” while God's house lay unfinished and unusable. As a result of this lengthy neglect of their spiritual duties, God sent a bitter harvest as a warning.

These procrastinators, though, were unmoved: "the time has not yet come." How often have we with puckered lips told God, "The time has not yet come"? We taste the bitter fruit of a depressed child but say, "I know he needs more of my time, Lord, but I've got this new job." Or we taste the unripe fruit of a chilled heart toward God and say, "Lord, I know I have been ignoring you, but I’ll join a small group Bible study when the kids return to school.” Or we taste the pungent fruit of marital strife but promise to seek help when our house remodeling is complete.

As I have reflected on my recent gardening, I have "repented" of my deficient soil—I need to fortify my soil through better composting. It is easy to be committed to the concept of composting. It is not easy to be committed to the chore of composting—hauling manure, turning the pile, adding grass and leaves, watering. There are no quick fixes for my soil—or my soul. Repentance brings my life out of winter. But I won’t reap a harvest unless I commit to the timeless, daily cycles of the farmer. When Israel strayed, God's message was "break up . . . sow . . . reap." No one reaps a bountiful life by putting off today's work.