Our lesson this week is 1 Kings 21. If you are following along in the Casandra Martin study guide, we are in Lesson 6.
I must begin our week with an apology for the lack of continuation in our study last week. My daughter got married last weekend and my week was a whirlwind of activity, preparation, family and friends. I am a strong believer in prayer. If you are as well, send up a prayer for this new marriage that was created before God last Saturday night ... for their union to bring glory to God and for them to "shine" as Christ followers in this dark world. And I thank you!
As we return to our study, our focus today will be on 1 Kings 19: 1 - 3. We are introduced to a man, Naboth. This is the only place we have record of this man. I see a powerful lesson emerge from this brief encounter. King Ahab offers him a good deal - either a better field in a trade or money for his existing field. Sounds like a great offer ... however ...
First, Naboth understood that "land" for an Israelite was more than just property. It was inheritance from God. It was to stay in the tribe. It represented the promises of God. Naboth stood for what he knew to be the will of God - even before the existing king of the country. That took courage! How many times God says to His people, "Be strong and courageous. Don't be afraid." I need to hear that so often! Naboth was not willing to compromise even in the face of political pressure and power. Do you ever find yourself dealing with the temptation to compromise what you know to be right? You are on common ground if you answer, yes. Are you being tempted to compromise right now? Naboth answered with, "God forbid ...". God forbid that we compromise our faith in the finished work of Jesus by thinking we can earn our way to heaven. If you are a believer, God forbid that we compromise our Christ-life by sexual immorality. God forbid that we desecrate the covenant of marriage that we made before Him. God forbid that we yield to the temptation to worship ANYTHING other than Him. God forbid that we place Him in any position other than FIRST. Learn from the courage of Naboth.
Secondly, Naboth seems to be content in his circumstances, with what he has. He could make money off this deal. But this piece of land is his inheritance from his fathers, and he rests in contentment there. Contentment seems to be such an illusive quality. In our classes on this subject, we had good discussion about the difference in contentment and apathy. They are definitely NOT the same thing.
Before Jesus began His public ministry, John the Baptist was preaching and creating quite a stir! People were flocking to him to hear his messages and to seek his wisdom. Some soldiers came to him asking what they should do. John's response was threefold - "Don't extort money, don't accuse people falsely, be content with your pay." (Luke 3:14) Paul writes to Timothy and says, "godliness with contentment is great gain." (1 Timothy 6:6). That's what we seek. That kind of contentment - not continually grasping and fighting for "more" - being at peace with God in whatever circumstances we find ourselves. The apostle Paul learned that ...
Read Philippians 4: 4 - 13.
Did you see in verse 11 that Paul said he had "learned" that? His language convinces me that this is a learned skill. We can learn it as well. But it will take practice. It does not come naturally. The question then arises: How? I believe the answer lies in these verses from Philippians.
1. Rejoice in the Lord - practice it, daily. Trace the hand of God in every day, regardless of what happens in that day.
2. Exhibit gentleness - practice it - in the way you deal with people, in the way you react to circumstances. Why? Because the Lord is near. Most of us behave better when we are in the presence of someone we greatly respect. The Lord is near. He is present.
3. Be a woman of prayer - practice it - daily - in everything - with requests - with thanksgiving. It will pull you closer to God. It will provide a release of the pressure, the tensions.
4. Watch what you "think on". Practice training your mind to look for the things Paul commends to you. Look for ... the true, the noble, the right, the pure, the lovely, the admirable, the excellent, the praiseworthy. Look for those things in your relationships and your circumstances. It takes practice. We are much more prone to critique and see the negative, the ugly, the sordid, the painful.
Oliver Wendell Holmes said, "Life is a great bundle of little things."
Thomas Brooks said, "He who is not contented with little will never be satisfied with much." (Can't you see Ahab illustrating this principle?!)
Learn from Naboth and pray for a spirit of contentment to permeate your life. Your spirit will be calmer. Your husband will be grateful. Your children will learn from you. Your God will be honored!
Godliness with contentment is GREAT GAIN!
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