凱恩會刻意避開與他同住在一棟大樓裡的外籍勞工。他們的習慣和生活方式與他截然不同，令他感到厭煩。但有一天凱恩在禱告時，一個想法突然浮現腦海，讓他感到很扎心：他們是你多年的鄰居，但你卻一次都沒有與他們分享福音，你應仔細想想你對他們的態度。

聖經告訴我們，上帝對古以色列人發出類似的警告：「你們要省察自己的行為」（哈該書1章7節）。當上帝的子民從被擄之地巴比倫回到耶路撒冷後，就肩負重建聖殿的使命。上帝「激動波斯王居魯士的心」（以斯拉記1章1節），使他下令建殿並提供資金（2-4節）。然而，當他們立定聖殿的根基後，卻受到百般阻撓（4章1-5節），於是他們將工程擱置了14年。

上帝透過先知哈該告訴古以色列人：「你們要省察自己的行為。⋯⋯我的殿荒涼，你們各人卻顧自己的房屋」（哈該書1章7、9節）。換言之，上帝是說：「仔細想想你們的生活方式，是否正在做我要你們做的事？」

雖然上帝管教了祂的子民（5-11節），但在他們重新開始動工時，上帝便鼓勵他們：「我與你們同在。⋯⋯你們不要懼怕」（2章4-5節）。後來，這座聖殿不到五年就建成了。

在生活中，我們在哪方面需要省察自己的行為？讓我們祈求上帝指示我們，並幫助我們順服祂的糾正。

Ken avoided the migrant workers in his building. Their habits and way of life, so different from his, annoyed him. One day, however, while Ken was praying, a thought pierced him: They’ve been your neighbors for years, yet not once have you shared the gospel with them. Think carefully about your attitude towards them.

Scripture tells us of when God confronted the Israelites with a similar warning: “Give careful thought to your ways” (Haggai 1:7). After their captivity in Babylon, His people returned to Jerusalem, tasked to rebuild the temple. God had “moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia” (Ezra 1:1) to order the construction and provide funds (vv. 2-4). But after the people laid the foundation, opposition grew (4:1-5), so they neglected the project for fourteen years.

Through the prophet Haggai, God told them, “Give careful thought to your ways. . . . My house . . . remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house” (Haggai 1:7, 9). God was saying, “Think carefully about how you’re living. Are you doing what I want you to do?”

God disciplined His people (vv. 5-11), but when they resumed construction, He encouraged them, “I am with you . . . . Do not fear” (2:4-5). And the temple was completed in less than five years.

In what area of life do we need to “give careful thought to [our] ways”? Let’s ask God to show us and help us follow His correction.