“The LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.”

1 Kings 21:3 NIV

One summer I rented a cottage for a week with my friend Wendy, each with two preschoolers in tow. We spent most of our time cooking, cleaning and watching the kids play together. We started to notice a pattern with our older two as they played together. Brandon would see Lauren with a toy. He would pick up another toy, go over to Lauren and play with it in front of her, maybe even talk to her about the toy. She would reach for it and he would take the toy from her hands—the toy he wanted! We were shocked at how easily Lauren would give up what she had. I knew Brandon was going to be a salesman from that day forward!

This silly childhood scenario was played out in the Bible with a much more serious plotline than two kids playing with toys. King Ahab wanted his neighbour’s vineyard. He tried to sweet-talk Naboth out of his property, but Naboth refused to give up his land. He saw the value in his property. He called it his “inheritance” because he recognized that it came from God. He knew that it was God who gave his father’s the land. Naboth valued what God had given him.

Too often Christians live, like Lauren played. We allow the enemy to steal away the great things God has given us, sometimes before we even receive the promise. It’s time we took on the attitude of Naboth and make a stand! We need to let it be known that we will not give up our inheritance!

Prayer:

Father…I thank-you that you have provided such an incredible inheritance for us! The enemy constantly seeks to take away all that you have entrusted into our care. Help us to manage well the blessing, giftings and talents—our inheritance from YOU!!! In Jesus Name…Amen.

Sherry Stahl