A Bag with Holes

I still have my grandfather’s cloth seed bag that he used to store seed corn. It has a neat patch, lovingly stitched by my grandmother. My grandparents were hardworking and knew that lost grain meant less money from selling the crop or less cornbread for a meal. They would have understood the prophet Haggai when he mentioned a “bag with holes.”

Haggai spoke of lost blessings, however, not lost seeds. He urged the Israelites to follow God’s laws and enjoy God’s blessings. Instead, they disobeyed. Their spiritual life resembled a bag with holes. The former captives had returned from Babylon and built fine houses for themselves. The temple, however, remained unfinished. Disobedience ruined their lives.

I think of my grandparents and Haggai as I consider my own ways. If I neglect God’s word, I am unprepared to face serious challenges. When my spiritual bag contains holes, I lose blessings. Grandmother used a needle and thread to patch grandfather’s seed bag. For my spiritual holes, I need more Bible study, prayer, confession, Christian fellowship, and service. With God’s help, we can repair the holes in our spiritual bags so that they will overflow with God’s abundant blessings.