WILL YOU GIVE UP YOUR VINEYARD?

(Based on 1 Kings 21)

"1 And it came to pass after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.

² And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, Give me thy vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near unto my house: and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it; or, if it seem good to thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money.
³ And Naboth said to Ahab, The Lord forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee.
⁴ And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread."~1-4

There is a powerful object lesson from this story.Naboth valued the vineyard he had inherited from his father more than anything.This vineyard could be equated with riches,for he valued so much.When king Ahab money and another vineyard he didn't have to think about it-he refused because this was an "inheritance".At the end Naboth is killed (you'll have to read the whole chapter).This vineyard was worth so much to him that he was willing to die for it.  

This is the attitude we need to have when it comess to our faith-our relationship with God,the salvation freely given to us.To a certain extent,it is an inheritance that has been passed from our forefathers (Abraham).Like Ahab,the devil seeks to take this inheritance away from us and He does it in various ways.

Like Ahab,he offers money,worldly riches,world attainments and more.As the youth he presents us with a false picture:a life of prosperity,a life free from duty and a life which is seemingly peaceful.But like Naboth,we are to stand true to this great gift of salvation.We also see that Naboth was not threatened by Ahab's position-he didn't even have to think or even consider what he offered.So should we.God's will should be the ultimate determining factor,even when we relate to those of higher positions.

Ahab also offered Ahab another vineyard in exchange of his.I mean what what harm could it do and it might serve the same purpose anyway,right?Well,Satan does the same with us.He offers a counterfeit relationship with God.He doesn't need us to leave the church.We can still have this "vineyard" in another form:"having the form of godliness,but denying the power thereof"(1 Timothy 3:5).

But like Naboth,let us refuse his offer and his suggestions.We are to guard our relationship with God so closely and let nothing come between us,even at the point of death.What Christ has done for us and what he offers,is worth dying for.Blood has been shed for us to have this liberty of enjoying worshipping God without our lives been at stake.We still have the privilege of reading our Bibles-when in the dark ages this wasn't a privilege for many.Many have been burned,abused,beaten,denied food and more just so we can have the light of the gospel.Some (waldenses) have lived in caves just to keep the Gospel in its truest form and undiluted.Such an inheritance-so full and free!

Like Naboth loved his vineyard unto death,let's also do the same.We are promised,"Yea,and all that live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution"(2 Timothy 3:12).This may come in any form,but our relationship with God and the salvation we have received is NOT worth giving up.


^" Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life."~Revelation 2:10

"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death."~Revelation 12:11

May we hold fast the gift of salvation freely given

My we choose poverty,scorn,ridicule,loneliness,seperation from loved ones,loss than to give up our heritage

May we not accept money-if it mean we will neglect duty and transgress God's law

May we choose to be in rags,if need be,for truth

May we choose to be "singular and straight laced" than to fit in

May we choose truth,rather than a counterfeit

And if it so happens that we have to die for we LIVE and believe,let us remember those who die in the Lord,will resurrect to eternal life (John 5:29;1 Thessalonians  4:13-17).

 

" Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."~Galatians 5:1

P/S:If there are any errors,forgive me,have to rush-Sabbath preps :)