The Pulpit Commentary — Haggai — Section 12

Christiim Church, and the spectacle of every professing disciple of Jesus Ohrist contributing his quote. of work to the building of that spiritual edifice whioh is to,dRy being erected on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, .Jesus Christ himself being the chief Comer-st.one, for the inhabitation of God through the Spirit (Eph. ii. 20-22). "The kingdom of heaven is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants,-and to every man his work" (Mark xiii. 34). II. CAEERFUL WILLINGNESS. "They all came." Not one required to be coerced or in any way dragged fort.h against his will. Nobody skulked or came forward with a grn,lge, but eacli WRS reRdier than his neighbour. So was it in the erection of the tabernacle; so ~hould it be in the building of the Christian Church. Yet how to re~lize this ideal in the latter case is one of the problems of the day. 1. The back- •ward11ess of Christia11s to enga,ge in specifically Christian work is a too evident fact. It may arise with some from constitutional timidity, with others from undue deprecia- tion ol their own ability, ,~ith a few from inability to discern a sphere suitable to their supposed gifts, but with most (it is to be feared) from a depressed condition of religion in the soul. The cure for the first may be found in the grace of God (2 Cor. xii. 9); for the second, in a high conception of God's ability (Phil. iv. 13); for the third, in doing the first thing that comes to hand (Eccles. ix. 10); and for the fourth, in a quickenin~ of the soul by the Holy Ghost (Ps. lxxx. 18). 2. The forwardness of Clwistians to engage in Christian work mi,ght be expected on many grounds. Gratitude to God, if nothing else, should constrain them (Ps. c:x:vi. 12). Love to .Christ might impel them (2 Cor. v. 14, 15). The nobility of the work might a.ttract them; it would be walking in the footsteps of Christ (Acts. x. 38). The splendour of the rewa.rd might induce them (Dan. xii. 3; Matt. xxv. 40; 1 Cor. xv. 58; Rev. ii.10; xiv. 13). The clamant need there is for sncb work might move them (1 John v. 19). The good it would do might urge them ('l'itus iii. 8). • III. AnDENT ENTHUSIASM. They came and did work. Not merely" putting in the time," as the workmen's phrase is; or simply dragging on with heartless indifference; or hurrying up the job with utmost speed and in careless fashion, a.nxious to get it done, no matter how; but toiling honestly and ea.mestly, with a business-like energy and determination, doing good work, and doing it with a. will. Such had been the manner in which the tabernacle-makers worked; such should be the style of.working in the Christian Church. 1. The Founder of the Christian Ohurch was an enthusiastio Worker. From the commencement of his ministry (Mark iv. 23; John ii.17) to its close (Luke ix.. 51; xii. 50), Jesus was consumed with a burning devotion to his work of glorifying God and blessing men. 2. The apostles and early preachers ef the (Jhri,stian Church were enthusiastic workers. The eleven (Mark xvi. 20); the twelve (Acts v. 42); Paul (Phil. iii. 13); Apollos (Acts xviii. 25); Epaphroditus (Phil. ii. 27). 3. The Ch1·istian Church has in almost every age possessed ,oorkers of a like spirit. Ministers, like .Augustine, Athanaeius, Chrysostom, Cyril, ,Calvin 1 Knox, Latimer, Baxter, Wesley, Chalmers; missionaries, like St. Augustine, St. Columba, St. Aidan, St. Mungo, Brainerd, Martyn, Carey, Williams, Moffat, Livingstone; private Christians, like the late Earl of Shaftesbury a.nd others. • IV. INDOMITABLE PERSEVERANCE. Too soon discouraged on the first occasion by tl"' angry speecbes and malicious threats of their enemies, on this occasion the templl.l- huilders met their adversaries with a bold front (Ezra v. 11), and rested not until they brought the work to completion (Zech. iv. 7, 9). Per~everan<'e: 1. .A characteriseic of al,l sincere Christian workers. Exemplified in the history of Jesus, of Peter ¥Id John, of Paul, aud of others who have followerl in their steps. 2. A necessary con"riition of all true succces in Christian working. The greater the work, the more does it demand patient perseverance. Enterprises that c~n be carried throu~h with a rush a.nd an dfort are seldom of moment. 3. .A certain guarantee of ultimate success. The mau wl,o persever<-s wins-in ordinary life commonly, in religious life certainly. CoKcLus10x. 'l'he Christian worker's encouragement. "I am with you, eaith the Lurd" (ver. 13; cf. Matt. xxviii. 20).. 1. For aid, ~ help you with ne~ded streu~th in your labours (Ps. C;llv~i. 1; Isa. xh. 10; Z~ch. xu. 1). 2. p-or J?rotect10n, to d~~end vuu a"ainst 1be machrnat10ns of your adversaries (Ezra v. 5; ls. xc1. 1-7; Prov. lL 7; Zeeb. 'li. 5 ; 1 Pet. iii. 13; Rei·. iii. 10). 3. For approbation, to accept your service v. hw it is finished ( eh. ii. 9). OH. I. 1-18,] 'l'HE BOOK OF HAGGAI. 1I