Haggai the prophet pointed out that the people had their priorities all out of place when it came to building the temple.

Haggai 1:5-6
Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it." 

This can be compared to modern life today…never satisfied…always wanting more…wasting what we have...looking more to the physical and worldly and less to the spiritual.
A verse to ponder today, "Give careful thought to your ways."

Haggai admonishes the people that they have left God's house in ruins while they have been busy with their own houses (and lives).  Because the people were so self-absorbed, God withheld His blessings. 

The people listened to the words of Haggai and responded positively and quickly. Think about all the other prophets. Many of them preached for years and years and few if any listened. Here comes one of the “lesser” prophets and the people listen and obey almost immediately. What gives???

Well...here's what gives...
Haggai 1:14
So the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of the whole remnant of the people. They came and began to work on the house of the Lord Almighty, their God,  

The Lord stirred up the spirit of the people.  The Holy Spirit prompted them to recognize the Word of the Lord spoken through the prophet and to act on his words.

Haggai 2:4b-5
Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty.  ‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’

God honored the obedience of the people.  And then He tells them of the glory of the future millennium temple.  But He also reminds them of their former disobedience as a nation, and the promise of restoration.

There is a special prophecy for a faithful man, Zerubbabel.  He will be God's signet ring in the building of the millennial temple.  Why was this man chosen?  Simply because he was obedient.  What great thing does God have in store for each of us, simply because we are obedient?  The answer to this question is in tomorrow's reading.  Remember the verse to ponder for today..."Give careful thought to your ways."