Heritage

Focus verses: I Kings 21:1-24

Today's reading tells us about the two most infamous people in the Old Testament and one faithful steward.

Ahab is the most wicked king to rule Israel, and Jezebel, his wife, has turned into a byword in our language as a descriptor of a treacherous woman.

The story of Naboth's vineyard seems rather innocuous in our day and age. Why would Naboth keep something that he could sell at a profit? After all, the king offered to trade him a different piece of property or to purchase the vineyard outright for cash.

But remember when the children of Israel took possession of the land, each tribe was given a specific portion of the land. The land is their heritage.

Back in the book of Joshua, chapter 13, we have the land being divided according to the word of the Lord spoken directly to Joshua. "Be sure to allocate this land to Israel for an inheritance, as I have instructed you, and divide it as an inheritance among the nine tribes and half of the tribe of Manasseh." (v. 13)

Naboth looked upon his land as an inheritance from the Lord. A gift from God is not to be taken lightly, nor traded off like one would barter a donkey or a bushel of grain. Look at his answer to Ahab: "The Lord forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers."

Naboth valued his heritage from the Lord and took his stewardship quite seriously.

What has the Lord given us that we value so highly? And how are we using it? What spiritual gifts do we have that we can use to benefit the body of Christ? And when was the last time we took these questions into consideration?

Father, God,

Teach us to use our inheritace from You wisely. Show us our gifts and how You would have us use them for Your glory.

In Jesus' most precious name.
Amen.