Sandcastles 

“You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes. You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the Lord of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house.”    Haggai‬ ‭1:6, 9‬ ‭ESV‬‬ http://bible.com/59/hag.1.6,9.esv

In this passage, God is speaking through the prophet Haggai about the need to rebuild His house.  I love the pictures that are created in these particular verses. God says you sow and harvest little. You drink, but never have enough. You earn wages, but put them into a bag with holes. How visual is that?!?! I hear God saying that all the time you spend “busying” yourself with your own house is futile.

 I imagine sandcastles. I have never been a great sandcastle builder, although my husband can make a pretty great one. The thing with sandcastles is that they are not meant to last. You could build one and the next day return to find it washed away by the wind or water or little children who enjoy crushing things. Sandcastles by nature do not last. They are like putting your money in a bag with holes. 

The time we spend building our kingdoms of sand is futile because the winds of life can easily blow them away. Every effort I make to build up myself and my little kingdom inevitably takes time from building His kingdom. Although, I need to preface this with the value of good stewardship and planning, but never at the expense of His kingdom.
Today, what am I building? Am I investing into the lives of the people around me? Am I consumed with my own kingdom? My own agenda? Or am I being mindful of His Kingdom. 

Lord, let me constantly be listening to your voice and letting you lead and guide me in order to build something that will last for eternity.