“Don’t Be a Sell Out”


BIBLE READING: 1Kings 21-22

“Sell out -someone who sacrifices their personal convictions for some type of advancement.”
      Naboth had set himself up to become a very wealthy man.  He owned a vineyard that was located on a prime piece of property, right beside the palace of King Ahab.  It just so happens that Ahab desired this vineyard for himself and he wanted to turn it into a vegetable garden.  As Naboth might have expected, Ahab made his offer to pay whatever the piece of property was worth.  It could have been very easy for Naboth to accept Ahab’s offer and ride off into the sunset a healthy, wealthy man.  There was just one problem, this vineyard was worth more to Naboth than any amount of money that Ahab would offer.  As it turns out, Naboth had inherited this vineyard from his father.  It could have been that this piece of property had been in his family for three or four generations, maybe even longer.  Naboth wasn’t interested in selling out to Ahab to become a rich man, because to him, there was something more valuable than money.  In the end, it cost him his life.  His rejection of Ahab’s offer infuriated Jezebel.  As a result, Jezebel has Naboth killed and just takes the vineyard for her husband.  One could say that Naboth was stupid for refusing such an offer.  He should have taken the money and had a healthy life, but in Naboth’s mind he wasn’t willing to be a sellout.  In selling the vineyard, he would have compromised his personal convictions and that was not something that he was willing to do.   We all need to have a conviction that is as strong as Naboth’s. As Christians we have an inheritance that is worth so much more than anything this world could offer us.  Yet, we constantly see people compromising the convictions and their faith for things that Paul described as “dung” in Philippians 3.8.  Naboth was not willing to become a sellout, what about you?  Do you have a price?   I hope not!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tuesday - October 4, 2016

Woodlawn Family Bible Study TUESDAY BIBLE READING:    Genesis 32:22-32 Do you want to be blessed? That sounds like a rhetorical question, doesn’t it? Who doesn’t want to be blessed? I guess it really depends on your definition of “blessed.” Many people desire blessings that will make them wealthy or, perhaps, material goods. However, being blessed is not limited to those physical things. In fact, sometimes we can be blessed in the most unusual ways. For instance, in Genesis 32:26, we find Jacob wrestling with what we often call an angel. Within the story, Jacob is overtaking the angel and holding him down; refusing to let go until the angel gives him a blessing. The angel obliges Jacob, but not in the way he might have imagined. The angel changed his name from “Jacob” to “Israel,” but he also did something else. He put Jacob’s hip joint out of socket, causing him much pain and difficulty walking. In part, his blessing had to do with him walking with a limp. How is tha...
Read more

“Examples”

BIBLE READING: Mark 13- Luke 1 DISCUSSION                                                                                   This past week we have read of some great examples in the bible.   We read in Mark 13 about us being ready and being prepared for when Jesus returns.   We need to all stay awake!   In Mark 14 we read of one action having such an impact.   How this woman gave her very best to Jesus because of her love for Him.   In Mark 15 we read of Pontius Pilate and his desire to keep his power.   He loved his power and did not want to give it up even if that meant sending an inno...
Read more

Monday

BIBLE READING : Job 3. 1-26 “I wish I had never been born,” Job said to his friends. “I wish that my birthday was just wiped off of the calendar as though it never happened.” Who could blame him? The loss that he had endured in mere moments had been catastrophic. Job had experienced a wonderful life until that day, when all he had known changed. I know that many people have endured tragic losses, but Job’s defeat seems unfathomable. Isn’t it ironic that, although Job’s comments brought him so much pain, they can bring us so much joy? My mother always taught me that, no matter how bad I may think things are, someone else always is suffering more than I am. Not only does that help us to feel that we are not alone in our depression, but it gives us that hope for what is to come. Job’s story helps us to learn to appreciate the blessings that we have today! Job was not in control of his circumstances, but he was in control of his reaction to those circumstances. When Job was hurtin...
Read more