Prayer: Father, may I be content with what You have given me and blessed me with. Amen.
Reading: 1 Kings 21 key: vs. 1-4 “Now it came about after these things that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel, next to the palace of King Ahab of Samaria. Ahab spoke to Naboth saying, “Give me your vineyard, so I may have it for a garden of herbs, since it’s right next to my house. I’ll give you a better vineyard than it in exchange, or if it seems better to you, I’ll give you its price in money.” But Naboth said to Ahab, “Adonai forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers. So Ahab went into his house sullen and resentful because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him, when he said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” He lay down on his bed, turned away his face and would eat no food.” TLV
Attention: There is a saying which is attributed to several wealthy people, when asked, “What does a wealthy person want? The popular answer: “Just a little bit more!”
King Ahab was considered a wealthy person and yet he looked over his fence and his neighbor’s vineyard looked particularly appeasing. He wanted his neighbor’s vineyard so greatly, he went to his neighbor (Naboth) and inquired if he could buy the vineyard or at least trade for a “better” vineyard. The neighbor exercised his right to keep his vineyard since it was an “inheritance of my father.” It had sentimental value and the property had been in the family.
I remember a time in which I thought it would be sentimental to own my father’s home that I grew up in. It never happened and today the house, garden, and fruit trees have been demolished for commercial growth.
At issue is the last Commandment of the Ten Words spoken by Adonai to Moses, covetousness. To remind us here is how it reads: “Do not covet your neighbor’s house, your neighbor’s wife, his manservant, his maidservant, his ox, his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.” A vineyard fits squarely into the Tenth Commandment.
Notice Ahab’s attitude, “He lay down on his bed, turned away his face (sulked) and would eat no food.” Jezebel hatches a plan for Naboth’s demise, by having a couple “worthless men testify” against him, claiming he had “cursed God and the king!” They took Naboth out and “stoned him to death.”
Adonai sent Elijah to king Ahab confirming that God saw what he did, and He would bring “evil upon him.” God is not mocked by our actions, even the actions of a king.
I encourage you not to be covetous over your neighbor’s house, his wife, or anything which belongs to him. It is not worth the cost of disobeying Adonai.
Action: I choose to not be covetous of anything which belongs to my neighbor.
Yield: I choose to be obedient to the word of Adonai.
Engage: I choose to engage in obedience to Adonai and His commandments.
Relationship: I choose to live in intimate relationship with Adonai.
Prayer: Father, Your word tells me that if I have broken one commandment, I have broken them all. I repent of the past behaviors where I have coveted what belonged to my neighbor. I ask Your forgiveness. Restore me in relationship with You. I never want to be distant and out of fellowship with You. Amen.
Memory Verse: Jacob (James) 2:10 “For whoever keeps the whole Torah but stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.” TLV
Music Video: Dwell Songs—Abide https://youtu.be/BLDEt9KP2O0?si=Cb5hRYqcJdxZG1_Q
Remember, “Abide in Yeshua, today!”