have a bag with holes…consider your ways

 

Title: Money Bag with Holes? Consider Your Ways.

Author: Rev. Wesley Shaw, PhD.

The prophet Haggai declared, “He that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. Thus saith the Lord of hosts; consider your ways.” (Haggai 1:6-7)

The prophet uses the metaphor of the bag with holes to illustrate those whose provisional money always seems to fall short of being adequate. He instructs us to consider our ways. The Hebrew word for way is “derek,” a road, course of life, mode of action, custom, journey or manner. The Hebrew word describing the hole is “naqab,” whose multi faceted meaning is to puncture, to perforate with violence, to curse, or libel.

We gain a deeper sense of meaning in verse nine, which says, “Why? saith the Lord of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house.”

This violent curse, perforation, or puncture in our provisional bag is a result of our default in supporting the house of God. It is as if when we know and profess the word of God and His way that we choose our own selfish way, a libelous way, a way of curses and not blessings.

The old aphorism states that a person’s heart is where his money is and money will follow his interest. If we love the Lord and His house, our money will follow our interest. We will become kingdom minded, walking in obedience to His word, and entering into the covenantal blessings that are inherent in his promises. As we pay our tithe, He will honor His word and open the windows of heaven pouring out blessings that we cannot contain.

However, in order to pay the tithe there must be a radical plan of discipline wherein we set aside ten per cent for God and live on only ninety percent. The Majority of Americans have shown that they are incapable of doing this. The American Payroll Association’s finding indicates that sixty five percent of Americans need their next pay check just to meet their living expenses. Author Curt Anderson in his new book, “Reset: How This Crisis Can Restore Our Values and Renew America,” presents a manifesto of American renewal.This manifesto would substitute the factory floor for the gambling hall, resetting ourselves to the old fashioned values of hard work and savings. Even as this book is being released, the savings in America in April, May, and June of 2009 reached a ten year high of five percent. For those who do not have the discipline to tithe, save, or invest, Susan Kaplan, a financial planner in Massachusetts says, “Take self discipline out of the equation by participating in automatic enrollment plans.”However, Jesus said, “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.” (John 8:31) When following his word, we must strive to be steadfast and disciplined in all areas of our life. The desire of Kurt Anderson to reset ourselves and return to old fashioned values of hard work and saving is commendable. One old fashioned value found in an ancient paradigm of the Jewish people is the ten-ten-eighty formula. This includes ten per cent to God, ten per cent to savings and investments, and eighty per cent to live on.This disciplined lifestyle and other similar models have been instrumental in helping the Jewish people to become successful where ever they have gone. It is the will of God that we would have provisional bags without holes, bags that are blessed and not cursed. The greatest reset for the people of God, however, will be when we move into the ultimate arena of financial blessings which He has promised when we become the head and not the tail, the lender and not the borrower. (Deut. 28:12-13)

Anderson, Kurt, “Reset, How This Crisis Can Restore Our Values and Renew America”

Random House, New York

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