Obedience for an Inheritance
“If you obey God, you will have something to leave your grandchildren. If you don't obey God, those who live right will get what you leave.” (CEV) Proverbs 13:22
This version of the scripture really edified me such that I thought sharing will bless us all. Just wrapped in plain simplicity – our inheritance in Christ is tied to nothing but obedience. Not in how much we think we must do, like the world thinks.
Solomon the wisest man said something in his writings about how we toil according to the worldly standards to acquire success (Ecclesiastes 4:4-8). A success that stems in envy, a useless approach.
“Here is someone who lives alone. He has no son, no brother, yet he is always working, never satisfied with the wealth he has. For whom is he working so hard and denying himself any pleasure? This is useless, too - and a miserable way to live." (Ecclesiastes 4:8)
Unfortunately, the picture above in verse 8 is how we believers are living in the house of God. We are selfishly amassing wealth on this earth to be left as inheritance for our children. In our attempt, we end up not paying attention to who or what we have to step on to get there. Many believers have abused relationships and opportunities in pursuit of such wealth. We have abandoned our first love (God and His word) along the way.
As a reward, God’s word says such wealth He will take and give to others who serve him righteously.
So, which is better? To toil and acquire wealth outside God’s ways for Him to give to other people’s children who live and seek His righteousness or to give heed to God’s ways and plans, so He himself can give not only that which you desire in this life but also provide an inheritance for your children and generations to come.
The ball is indeed in our court. Today we have an opportunity to choose to obey God – to seek Him and His Kingdom first and to live according to the tenets of His words so that we are sure that our children’s children will be legally sustained by God’s providence as inheritance.
David said in Psalm 37:25:
“…I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread.”
That’s what God is calling us to receive this year and beyond. This call is not a ticket to laziness. It is instead, one of abandoning self and that which gratifies you to taking God at His word and allowing Him to control every aspect of your life – family, marriage, studies, business, ministry, career plans, job opportunities, relationships, finances, emotions, etc.
I pray you heed His call because He is always faithful. I stand a living testimony of His faithfulness.