Stewards

By not following God’s principles in handling resources that He provides, we can rob God of tithes and offerings. First, we must acknowledge that God is the owner of all things (Psalm 50:10-12). He created the heavens, the earth, and everything in them, and everything we have comes from His hand. Second, we must recognize that God has appointed His children to be stewards of His possessions. We are to use wisely what He has given us and return to Him a portion of what He’s entrusted to us (1 Cor. 16:1-2; 1 Tim. 6:17-18). When we give to the church and to the needy, we are giving to God. The Lord asks that we give Him the first part of all we earn (Proverbs 3:9-10), but not because He needs it – He already owns it, whether we give it to Him or not. Rather, we’re the ones who need to learn to rely on Him as our provider and respond with generosity, obedience, and gratitude for His kindness toward us.

Commentary from the In Touch devotional by Charles Stanley, June 3, 2021.

Loving the world-All is vanity

The prophet drew contrasts between the one who eagerly ran to care for his own house, while disregarding God’s house, revealing selfish indulgence and misplaced priorities. The selfish lack of concern for God’s house only caused more hardship.

Commentary from the MacArthur study Bible, notes for Haggai, 1:4,6,9.

A Faithful Influence

Wherever God’s servant is faithful and is an influence for the gospel, God is pleased.  There is a twofold effect of gospel preaching.  To some, the message brings eternal life and ultimate glorification.  To others, it is a stumbling stone of offense that brings eternal death.

Commentary from the MacArthur study Bible, notes for 2 Corinthians 2:15,16.

All shall worship

Therefore God also has highly exalted Him

and given Him the name which is above every name,

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

of those in heaven, and of those on earth,

and of those under the earth,

and that every tongue should confess

that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:9-11

The Fragrance of Christ

Paul was further thankful for the privilege of pleasing God.  Wherever God’s servant is faithful and is an influence for the gospel, God is pleased.

Commentary from the MacArthur study Bible, notes for 2 Corinthians 2:15.

No less

Paul’s answer to the pride of the more visibly gifted was to engage his analogy again and remind them that the more fragile and less lovely, in fact, ugly parts of the body which are not publicly “presentable” (v.24) are given the greater respect for their necessity.

Commentary from the MacArthur study Bible, notes for 1 Corinthians 12:22-24.

Laying aside of pride

This final command found at James 4:10 sums up the preceding nine commands, which mark the truly humble person.  “Humble” comes from the word meaning “to make oneself low.”  Those conscious of being in the presence of the majestic, infinitely holy God are humble (Isaiah 6:5).

Commentary from the MacArthur study Bible, notes for James 4:10.

Things change

Jesus Christ does not change.