Haggai 1: 2-6 The time has come for building the second temple

Thus says the Lord of hosts, "This people say, 'the time has not come even the time for the house of the Lord to be built.' The Lord replies, "Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses while this house lies desolate? Consider your ways! You have sown much, but harvest is little, you eat, but there is not enough to be satisfied, you drink, but there is not enough to become drunk; you put on clothing, but no one is warm enough, and he who earns, earns wages to put into a purse with holes." The Lord says, "Go up to the mountains, bring wood and rebuild the temple, that I may be pleased with it and be glorified. You look for much, but it comes to little; when you bring it home, I blow it away. Why? Because of my house which lies desolate, while each of you runs to his own house.

The meaning is clear. God will not tolerate humankind putting ourselves ahead of God. Every time we do that, we will take one step forward in our family life, only to take three steps backward. Our future and fate is one hundred percent dependent on God's grace in mercy. Apart from him, we can do nothing.

Daily Prayer: Father, you build up and you tear down. You heal and you kill. What you don't do is to rise up the haughty. Let us then humble ourselves before you and make you the center of our plans. In your holy name I pray Amen.