1:6Haggai 1:6

The verse describes labor that yields empty returns, where much sowing brings in little and food, drink, clothing and wages fail to give enough, satisfaction and warmth.PK 574.1–575.1+2 The purse with holes pictures earnings and possessions that quickly disappear and bring no lasting benefit, prosperity or satisfaction.ED 143.1–2+2 It was spoken to the returned Jews when they dwelt in their own houses and strove for temporal prosperity while the Lord's house lay neglected, well-nigh forsaken and in ruins.PK 574.1–575.1+3 Because they made personal interests first and used His bountiful gifts of corn, wine and oil selfishly, He sent wasting drought upon their substance, so their very effort to avoid want brought the want they feared.PK 574.1–575.1+4 The same loss follows all who disregard His claims and withhold tithes and offerings to advance their own interests, while means willingly given to His work are safely invested as treasure in heaven beyond decay, loss or theft.ED 143.1–2+4

The verse describes the returned Jews in the early part of the reign of Darius Hystaspes, when for over a year the temple lay neglected and well-nigh forsaken while the people dwelt in their own homes and strove for temporal prosperity.PK 573.1–2 They left the Lord's unfinished house neglected while giving themselves to their own houses.PK 574.1–575.1+4 They made personal interests first and looked with apathy on His house lying in ruins.PK 573.1–2+1

Because they let the temple lie waste, the Lord sent a wasting drought upon their substance, so that the very elements of nature seemed to conspire against them.PP 527.2–528.1+1 The fruits of field and garden, the corn and the wine and the oil, had been bestowed as a token of His favor, but because they used these bountiful gifts selfishly the blessings were removed.PK 573.1–2 Their desire to avoid poverty led them to withhold effort from the temple, but that neglect brought the very want they feared.PK 574.1–575.1+2 Had they honored God by making building His house their first work, they would have invited His presence and blessing.Ms 116, 1897, par. 6–11+1

Sowing abundantly yet harvesting little, eating without having enough, drinking without being filled, clothing without being warm, and earning wages only to lose them describe labor and resources that fail to meet need for sufficiency, satisfaction, and warmth.PK 574.1–575.1+4 Crops yield little, food and drink do not satisfy, clothing does not keep warm, and wages are quickly lost when the Lord's unfinished house is neglected while each pursues his own house and interests.PK 574.1–575.1+4 The attempt to escape poverty by putting personal interests first and withholding effort from the temple brings the very hardship feared, with want following amid drought sent because His house remains neglected.PK 574.1–575.1+2 The same failure to prosper belongs to neglect of work entrusted, leaving harvests meager and possessions without lasting benefit, and in that application withholding resources brings loss while putting the Lord first by earnestly working to pay debts on houses of worship honors His house.10MR 125.2–3+2

The bag with holes pictures earnings and possessions that quickly disappear and fail to satisfy, prosper, or bring lasting benefit, like money kept that is soon lost.ED 143.1–2+4 When claims of God are disregarded and tithes and offerings withheld, harvest and provisions fall short and earnings vanish, showing that earthly effort and income cannot do real good apart from His blessing.ED 143.1–2+2 Wisdom and effort cannot prevent Him from scattering what is gathered and accumulated for self, so that losses outpace gains and expected yield and preservation fail.Lt 70, 1893, par. 27–28 Wealth gained while God is neglected consumes attention yet leaves possessors spiritually starved with no progress toward heaven, and money put into worldly use without regard to His work is wasted.ST Dec 1, 1887+2 By contrast, treasure willingly given to advance His work is safely invested in heaven beyond decay, destruction, loss, or theft, bringing lasting enjoyment, and the warning therefore calls to self-denial and economy so that means may go to His treasury to support workers and help the suffering.RH Nov 15, 1906+1

Work as they might they did not prosper, and spiritually as well as temporally their situation was deplorable.PK 573.1–2 In the early part of the reign of Darius Hystaspes, for over a year the temple lay neglected and well-nigh forsaken while the people dwelt in their own homes and strove for temporal prosperity, making personal interests first and looking with apathy on the Lord's house in ruins.PK 573.1–2 Because they let the temple lie waste He sent a wasting drought upon their substance, so that the very elements of nature seemed to conspire against them.PK 573.1–2 The fruits of field and garden, the corn and the wine and the oil, had been bestowed as a token of His favor, but because they used these bountiful gifts selfishly the blessings were removed.PK 573.1–2

The call to consider one's ways with its account of sowing much and bringing in little is also a prophecy describing the state of the world just before the second coming.Ms 110, 1893, par. 13 That time is marked by iniquity, continual transgression of God's law, and breach of the everlasting covenant.Ms 110, 1893, par. 13

The losses come because those entrusted with God's gifts disregard His claims, neglect His house and sacred things, and withhold the tithes and offerings due to Him, so that harvest and provisions fall short and earnings disappear like money kept in a bag with holes.ED 143.1–2+1 The verse belongs to the warning to consider one's ways, with the neglected temple identified as the reason for the failure to satisfy or prosper.ED 143.1–2 When people put selfish interests ahead of God's work, His prospering hand does not bless their undertakings.Lt 8, 1873, par. 10–13+1 Earthly effort and income cannot do real good apart from His blessing, so that men may work hard yet gain little, remain unsatisfied and unwarm, and see wages vanish as if stored in a bag with holes.Lt 8, 1873, par. 10–13

God can scatter what people gather and accumulate while He is neglected, so that gain pursued with business and worldly concerns made primary brings no lasting benefit.2T 233.2–234.1+2 Those who withhold heart and resources from God may gather, but He will scatter, and instead of flourishing they become unfruitful like a withered branch.2T 166.1–167.2 When what is due to Him is withheld, efforts for earthly prosperity can come to nothing because He can frustrate plans and make losses outpace gains.5T 271.3+1 Earnings and possessions kept for self instead of honoring God are like money put into a bag with holes, failing to yield or preserve what is expected, and no wisdom or effort can prevent Him from scattering them.Lt 70, 1893, par. 27–28 Prosperity cannot be secured by pursuing wealth contrary to His principles, for He can scatter resources faster than human effort can accumulate them, a rule applying to those who serve themselves and give ministers and other workers an unjust estimate of their service unless they repent in light of the truth whose record stands against them in the judgment.Lt 55, 1894, par. 11

He may afflict families and diminish possessions in proportion to unwillingness to give, so that failing material efforts reveal how little divine things are valued.ST Mar 4, 1903 Dearth of means in the treasury is the sure result of work He cannot sanction.Ms 29, 1911, par. 52–53 That occurs when men rob their brethren of their rights and selfishly grasp all available means for the advantage of their own institution while claiming to do it for the cause of God, and He withholds financial blessing.Ms 29, 1911, par. 52–53 Human preferences and prejudices, confederating to sustain methods contrary to the Word, with selfishness leading those who ought to be true to principle to make crooked paths for their feet, bring the lack and loss described.Ms 29, 1911, par. 52–53

The call to stop and consider applies to men in His service who work on principles He cannot sanction.Ms 188, 1901, par. 3–4 It exposes those who corrupt truth and righteousness by depending not on the power of God but on human effort, bringing presumption and human wisdom into the work.Ms 188, 1901, par. 3–4 Such a course shows they are not working in harmony with God and their spirit is not one with His Spirit.Ms 188, 1901, par. 3–4 The Lord will not prosper a man while he remains out of the truth, but his money goes into a basket with holes where it runs in and then runs out and is gone.Lt 110, 1898, par. 4 To end this waste he must come back humbly to the foot of the cross.Lt 110, 1898, par. 4

Want and loss follow robbery of God by stewards entrusted with the greatest capital for the Master, who forget their stewardship of surplus means to advance His work on earth.Ms 47, 1900, par. 6 That forgetfulness becomes selfish use in extravagantly embellishing their own dwelling houses while thinking any place good enough for the worship of God, and by that use they dishonor the Redeemer.Ms 47, 1900, par. 6 By contrast, resources willingly given to advance God's work are safely invested as treasure in heaven, bringing lasting enjoyment beyond the reach of decay, destruction, loss, or theft.4T 78.3–79.1+1 Money kept for oneself cannot provide lasting security or satisfaction, for what is stored in heaven cannot be lost or stolen as earthly holdings can.4T 78.3–79.1+1

Money is a talent to be appreciated and wisely invested in carrying forward God's work in needy fields, with a set-aside portion for the Lord.Lt 218, 1903, par. 3–5 Spending entrusted means for self-gratification and self-pleasing gives no real satisfaction, while faithful stewardship does, since putting money into a bag with holes means spending what is entrusted for self instead of for His service.Lt 218, 1903, par. 3–5 The warning therefore calls to self-denial and economy so that wages and resources are not wasted without regard to God's work, but given to His treasury to support workers in service and help suffering people.Ms 43, 1898, par. 19 Money put to such wasteful use is like money placed in a bag with holes.Ms 43, 1898, par. 19 Money placed in worldly enterprises rather than in work that advances God's kingdom is likewise like wages in a bag with holes, and means should instead be entrusted to God's work where they can help save souls and be preserved as treasure in heaven.Lt 109, 1899, par. 9–11

Wealth gained while God is neglected consumes attention yet leaves people spiritually starved, with no progress toward heaven, for people work and earn yet their resources are like money in a bag with holes and bring no lasting satisfaction.ST Dec 1, 1887 Material gain without godliness is futile in the same way.Lt 48, 1897, par. 27–30 Money obtained unfairly is like wages in a bag with holes, bringing no lasting benefit and ultimately harming the one who gains it.Lt 48, 1897, par. 27–30

Haggai 1:6 stands in God's rebuke against leaving His house to the last consideration, and it requires making the building of a house for the Lord the first consideration without further delay.Ms 175, 1897, par. 67–69+2 That first work is to provide a proper and accessible place of worship on the most favorable ground, large enough for His people to assemble and bow before Him reverently and in good order in a suitable manner.Ms 175, 1897, par. 67–69+1 A worship place that is too small is not according to His will, and delay in providing it is to be regretted, for with the right kind of faith the work could have been done earlier.Ms 175, 1897, par. 67–69+1

The chapter's call to build declares that the time had come for the Lord's house to be built, and it was applied to the decision to proceed with the Cooranbong meeting house.Ms 97, 1897, par. 4–6+1 Neglecting the building of the Lord's house while pursuing personal labor leaves work scant, unsatisfying, and unfruitful, with resources failing to prosper.Ms 97, 1897, par. 4–6+2 On the school grounds, providing a place for God's people to meet and honor Him should have been the first work, showing reverence for God and meeting His approval.Lt 56, 1897, par. 9

Neglecting God's house while each attends to his own home and interests brings meager returns in which much effort produces little and ordinary needs remain unmet.10MR 125.2–3+4 Crops yield little, food and drink do not satisfy, clothing does not keep warm, and wages are quickly lost as if disappearing.10MR 125.2–3+2 Putting the Lord first by honoring Him in building His house and by working earnestly to pay church debts honors Him, while withholding resources for it brings loss rather than blessing.10MR 125.2–3+1 The attempt to avoid poverty by postponing His house brings the very hardship feared, whereas putting His interests first invites His presence.Ms 116, 1897, par. 6–11

Churches that neglect to build or maintain their buildings, rely on borrowed money, and make too little sacrifice to free them from debt dishonor God.10MR 124.1+1 Interest then consumes means that could reduce the principal, leaving houses of worship burdened with debt through failure to give sacrificially.Ms 116, 1897, par. 38–39+2 The chapter is cited in connection with using God's resources to relieve burdens resting on His institutions when labor and possessions otherwise bring little satisfaction or lasting benefit.6T 457.3–458.3 Those who realize the nearness of the Lord are to act their faith when one of His instrumentalities is languishing or in peril by manifesting practical interest and unitedly taking His own substance to lift those burdens, with the promise that He will cooperate with them.Ms 65, 1900, par. 9–11

Haggai 1:6 belongs to the warning to consider one's ways, echoing the call for a person to examine his course and repent.ED 143.1–2+1 When those entrusted with God's gifts disregard His claims, their labor and possessions fail to satisfy or prosper, with harvest and provisions falling short and earnings disappearing like money kept in a bag with holes.ED 143.1–2 The neglected temple and the withheld tithes and offerings are the reason for such losses.ED 143.1–2 It exposes the futility and lack of blessing that accompany neglect of God's work when business and worldly concerns are made primary while service to God is neglected.2T 233.2–234.1+1 Gain gathered while God is neglected does not bring lasting benefit, for God can scatter what people accumulate.2T 233.2–234.1

Providing a place for God's people to meet and honor Him should have been the first work, showing reverence for God and meeting His approval, and this lesson applies to the school grounds.Lt 56, 1897, par. 9 Aid given to those who are in poverty and want through waste of time and lack of effort to sustain themselves is lost like treasure put into a basket with holes unless those faults are seen and corrected.Ms 89, 1898, par. 19–21 The hardworking are not required to support those who are not diligent and waste hours and days doing nothing.Ms 89, 1898, par. 19–21 Unavoidable poverty and misfortune, by contrast, are to be met with tenderness and compassion.Ms 89, 1898, par. 19–21

The image of wages put into a bag with holes describes money that is wasted and brings no lasting relief.Lt 36, 1897, par. 4–10 Entrusting money to someone who misuses it would be like this, with the money lost without relieving his difficulties.Lt 36, 1897, par. 4–10