Lessons from Habakkuk...

Here are some lessons gleaned from the book of Habakkuk:

Habakkuk 1:3
"Why do you make me see iniquity,
    and why do you idly look at wrong?
Destruction and violence are before me;
    strife and contention arise"

- You will not always have good leadership. You will probably (at some point) have a coworker who causes "strife and contention."
- Realize this (potential lack of good leadership) and plan accordingly. God will not always place us in comfortable situation. We may face unfairness and unrighteous people - but plan ahead and make god decisions about what situations you put yourself in. 

Habakkuk 1:13
"You who are of purer eyes than to see evil
    and cannot look at wrong,
why do you idly look at traitors
    and remain silent when the wicked swallows up
    the man more righteous than he?"

- if you see something fishy or dangerous - don't be afraid to speak up and say something. If you don't say anything you are a part of the problem. 

Habakkuk 2:1
"I will take my stand at my watch post
    and station myself on the tower,
and look out to see what he will say to me,
    and what I will answer concerning my complaint"

- Set yourself up to look for God's guidance, and expect Him to answer. Just be sure to remember that God will answer in His time, and the answer we get may not be the one we want. 

Habakkuk 2:3
  "For still the vision awaits its appointed time;
    it hastens to the end—it will not lie.
If it seems slow, wait for it;
    it will surely come; it will not delay."






- God's timeline for our lives may not coincide with the timeline we plan for ourselves.

Habakkuk 2:5
“Moreover, wine^[b] is a traitor,
    an arrogant man who is never at rest.^[c]
His greed is as wide as Sheol;
    like death he has never enough.
He gathers for himself all nations
    and collects as his own all peoples.”

- Be satisfied with what you have. Anything and Everything you have is a blessing or gift from God. You do not deserve it. When we seek worldly thing to satisfy ourselves, our focus is off God. 

Habakkuk 2: 6-8 

⁶ Shall not all these take up their taunt against him, with scoffing and riddles for him, and say,

“Woe to him who heaps up what is not his own—
    for how long?—
    and loads himself with pledges!”
⁷ Will not your debtors suddenly arise,
    and those awake who will make you tremble?
    Then you will be spoil for them.
⁸ Because you have plundered many nations,
    all the remnant of the peoples shall plunder you,
for the blood of man and violence to the earth,
    to cities and all who dwell in them."

- Know your limits financially. When you increase your means without the money to back it up, you dig yourself into a hole. You will have people (creditors, lenders, etc) shoveling the dirt in on top of you. Make wise choices and don't be put in this situation.

Habakkuk 2:15-16

¹⁵ “Woe to him who makes his neighbors drink—
    you pour out your wrath and make them drunk,
    in order to gaze at their nakedness!
¹⁶ You will have your fill of shame instead of glory.
    Drink, yourself, and show your uncircumcision!
The cup in the Lord's right hand
    will come around to you,
    and utter shame will come upon your glory!

- Do not tempt others (competitors) with their weaknesses... especially if you are willingly doing this for personal gain.

Habakkuk 2:19-20

  ¹⁹ Woe to him who says to a wooden thing, Awake;
    to a silent stone, Arise!
Can this teach?
Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver,
    and there is no breath at all in it.
²⁰ But the Lord is in his holy temple;
    let all the earth keep silence before him.”

- Do not put your faith in symbols that cannot respond ("wooden" or "stone" gods). Instead have faith in the Lord who is alive and willing to respond to your requests!

It's amazing the reminders we are shown from our own thoughts sometime... I'm thankful for those reminders from the Lord. 

Love y'all - KC