“busy with your own house” [Haggai 1:9(NIV)]

“busy with your own house”. Despite being busy, the Israelites found that all their hard work was proving futile. The more they did, the less they achieved. Whilst rebuilding the temple, the people had become distracted with building homes for themselves and their priorities had changed. The house of the Lord could wait. Concern for self had replaced attention to God and as a result life was empty.
Our busy lives can distract us from attention to the Lord. We can be so focussed on getting our lives in order that we leave the Lord waiting. We fit the Lord into the time available rather than being available with time for the Lord.
The excuse offered by the Israelites was that it was not yet time. Strange how we find time for other things! Put the Lord first and He will help sort out the business of life.