Putting God First

This clip is part of the sermon “Pressing on in the Work" delivered by Kevin DeYoung at Christ Covenant Church in Matthews, NC on September 21, 2025.

God was upset with his people because they had all sorts of other priorities. And God was well down the list of their priorities. And so, God gives to them as they’ve done to God. Okay, you are frustrated with the plans I have for you – I’m going to frustrate your plans.

So, the more time they spent on themselves in absence of God, the less profitable they became. They sowed a lot of seed, but they harvested little. They drank, but they were thirsty. They collected wages, but the money fell through holes in their pockets. In other words, he’s giving to them covenant curses. He’s saying, “You’re not listening to me. You’re not obeying me.”

Now, why was the temple so important? Well, it was an act of obedience to build it. It was a sign of the covenant between God and his people. It symbolized God’s presence among them. It was there to install the sacrificial system. And most of all, it was that God would be glorified.

You see that in Haggai 1:8, “Build the house that I may be glorified.”

Now, why did it glorify God? Well, it was a beautiful structure. It was set on the holy hill of Mount Zion. So, it was a structure of beauty and impressive power and strength. But more than that, what did it symbolize? It showed to the nations that these people have put their God first.