Life Is More Than Consumption | Pastor Aaron Graham

The story of the returned exiles in Haggai is a powerful reminder of what it means to rebuild our lives and our community on the foundation of God’s presence and priorities. After years in Babylon, God’s people returned to Jerusalem, eager to restore the temple, but quickly became discouraged and distracted. For sixteen years, the work stopped, until God stirred their hearts through the prophet Haggai. The challenge they faced is not unlike our own: the temptation to delay obedience, to compare our present with the past, and to let the pressures of life and culture dictate our priorities.

God’s word through Haggai is urgent: “In a little while, I will once more shake the heavens and the earth.” This shaking is both a warning and a promise. It reminds us that everything in this world—our jobs, our health, our possessions—can be shaken and lost. Only what is built on the unshakable foundation of God’s kingdom will endure. The shaking is not just about judgment; it is about purification, about God removing what is temporary so that what is eternal remains.

Two areas are especially vulnerable to this shaking: our time and our money. How we use our calendars and our budgets reveals what we truly value and worship. The temptation is always to say, “It’s not the right time,” or to believe the myth that more consumption will bring fulfillment. But God calls us to put Him first, even when it’s hard, to seek His kingdom above our own comfort or security. This is not about guilt or obligation, but about learning to trust God’s provision and to steward what He has entrusted to us.

God’s promise is that when we align our lives with His purposes, He will supply all that is needed. The shaking of the nations in Haggai points both to the coming of Christ and to God’s ability to provide, even through unexpected sources. Ultimately, what God desires most is not our wealth, but our hearts—our desire for His presence above all else. The glory that fills God’s house is not measured in gold or silver, but in the weight of His presence among His people. When we put God first, we become part of something unshakable, something that will last when everything else fades away.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God’s Shaking Reveals What Is Eternal When God shakes the heavens and the earth, it is not merely to disrupt but to reveal what is truly unshakable. Our jobs, health, and possessions are all vulnerable, but God’s kingdom and His promises endure. The shaking is an invitation to build our lives on what cannot be moved, to let go of temporary securities and cling to the eternal foundation of Christ. [05:35]
• 2. Delayed Obedience Is Disobedience The returned exiles delayed rebuilding the temple, rationalizing that it wasn’t the “right time.” We often do the same, waiting for perfect circumstances before putting God first. But God’s timing is not always convenient, and obedience in the wilderness or in uncertainty is where faith is truly formed. God calls us to trust Him now, not in some imagined future when things are easier. [09:19]
• 3. The Consumption Train Never Satisfies Our culture disciples us to believe that fulfillment comes from acquiring more—more money, more possessions, more experiences. But this is a lie that leaves us empty, like drinking salt water that only increases our thirst. True contentment is found in godliness and gratitude, in recognizing that God owns it all and that our greatest treasure is His presence, not our possessions. [14:44]
• 4. God’s Provision Follows God’s Priorities When God’s people refuse to compromise on His priorities, He supplies all that is needed, often in surprising ways. The story of the temple’s rebuilding shows that even the wealth of nations can be redirected for God’s purposes. Our role is to be faithful stewards, offering our first and best, trusting that God will provide as we align our lives with His mission. [20:46]
• 5. Desire God’s Presence Above All Else The ultimate promise is not material abundance, but the filling of God’s house with His glory. The weight of God’s presence is what gives life meaning and value, far surpassing anything we could build or acquire. When we hunger for God above all else, we become part of His unshakable kingdom, and our lives reflect the beauty and majesty of His glory. [26:30]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:18] - The Return from Exile and the Halted Rebuilding
• [01:09] - God Stirs the Hearts to Rebuild
• [01:45] - The Danger of Comparison and God’s Presence
• [02:13] - Not by Might, but by God’s Spirit
• [03:12] - God’s Promise to Shake the Nations
• [04:21] - The Scope and Meaning of the Shaking
• [05:14] - What Will Remain? The Unshakable Kingdom
• [08:16] - God Shakes Our Time and Money
• [09:19] - The Temptation to Delay Obedience
• [12:51] - The Consumption Train and Contentment
• [16:46] - Seek the Peace of the City and God’s Kingdom
• [18:44] - The Desire of All Nations: Provision and Messiah
• [22:47] - Vision for the Nations and Our Church’s Role
• [26:30] - The Promise of God’s Glory Filling the House
• [30:30] - God Owns It All: Stewardship and Generosity
• [34:50] - Practical Steps: Honoring God with Our Possessions
• [38:49] - Generosity in Every Season
• [41:25] - A Vision for the Nations Seeking God in D.C.
• [42:26] - Closing Prayer and Blessing

Bible Reading

Haggai 2:6-9 (ESV) — > 6 For thus says the Lord of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land.
> 7 And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts.
> 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of hosts.
> 9 The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the Lord of hosts.

Hebrews 12:26-29 (ESV) — > 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”
> 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain.
> 28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,
> 29 for our God is a consuming fire.

1 Timothy 6:6-10 (ESV) — > 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain,
> 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.
> 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.
> 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.
> 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

Observation Questions

1. In Haggai 2:6-9, what does God promise to do, and what is the purpose of this “shaking” of the heavens and the earth?
2. According to Hebrews 12:27-28, what is the difference between things that can be shaken and things that cannot be shaken?
3. In 1 Timothy 6:6-10, what does Paul say about contentment and the desire for wealth?
4. The sermon mentioned that the exiles delayed rebuilding the temple for sixteen years. What reasons did they give for this delay? ([09:19])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think God allows “shaking” in our lives and in the world? What is He trying to reveal or accomplish through it? ([05:35])
2. The sermon said, “Delayed obedience is disobedience.” How does this idea challenge the way we think about waiting for the “right time” to follow God’s leading? ([09:19])
3. The “consumption train” was described as a cultural myth that more stuff will satisfy us. Why is it so hard to get off this train, and what does true contentment look like according to Scripture? ([14:44])
4. The sermon emphasized that God’s greatest desire is not our wealth, but our hearts and our desire for His presence. How does this change the way we view giving, serving, or building God’s house? ([26:30])

Application Questions

1. The sermon challenged us to consider what in our lives is “shakable” and what is “unshakable.” What is one area of your life (job, health, possessions, relationships) that feels vulnerable right now? How might God be inviting you to build more on His unshakable foundation? ([05:35])
2. Have you ever found yourself saying, “It’s not the right time” to obey something God is prompting you to do? What is one step of obedience you’ve been delaying, and what would it look like to trust God with it this week? ([09:19])
3. When you look at your calendar and your budget, what do they reveal about your true priorities? Is there a specific change you feel led to make in how you spend your time or money to put God first? ([08:41])
4. The “consumption train” never satisfies. Is there a purchase, habit, or pursuit in your life that you keep thinking will finally make you content? What would it look like to seek contentment in God instead? ([14:44])
5. The sermon encouraged us to make a list of our top five material possessions and ask, “Am I honoring God with this?” Take a moment to name one possession or resource you have. How could you use it to serve God or others this month? ([35:13])
6. God’s promise is that when we align our lives with His purposes, He will provide what we need. Can you share a time when you put God first and saw Him provide in a surprising way? If not, what is one area where you need to trust Him for provision right now? ([20:46])
7. The ultimate goal is to desire God’s presence above all else. What is one practical way you can cultivate a deeper hunger for God’s presence in your daily life this week? ([26:30])