I Want What I Want – NOW!
I really that think that most people, (certainly including me), want what we want WHEN we want it. I don’t like being told I couldn’t have something that I want. I have learned over the years, that just because I can’t have something don’t mean my life will end. I grew up in a family with 5 kids. We did not always get what we wanted. I remember as a kid wanting a mini-bike. This is small motor cycle that as I could ride over the hills or down the road in the little town I grew up in. My best friend had one and I wanted one too. I dreamed about having a mini bike. I coveted my friend’s mini bike. I survived that huge disappointment. As I grew older and learned the value of money, I realized that my parents did the best they could with the resources they had. My kids have wanted stuff over the years for Christmas that either I couldn’t afford to give them or I knew was not safe or healthy for them. I would have probably killed myself on a mini bike anyway.
As a grown man, I still want what I want when I want it. The scale of things I want are a bit different than a mini bike – the price tags are quite a bit more. I want more money than I have for sure, but I’ve learned that if I love money too much, it can destroy me. I heard a guy say one time that He wished the Lord would trust him enough to see if he could handle being rich beyond his wildest dreams.
King Ahab had this same disease of selfishness. He wanted a vineyard that was close by the palace. He approached the man named Naboth and asked to trade for his vineyard or buy it a market price. Naboth didn’t want to sell. Check this out…
3 But Naboth replied, ‘The Lord forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my ancestors.’
4 So Ahab went home, sullen and angry because Naboth the Jezreelite had said, ‘I will not give you the inheritance of my ancestors.’ He lay on his bed sulking and refused to eat.
5 His wife Jezebel came in and asked him, ‘Why are you so sullen? Why won’t you eat?’
6 He answered her, ‘Because I said to Naboth the Jezreelite, “Sell me your vineyard; or if you prefer, I will give you another vineyard in its place.” But he said, “I will not give you my vineyard.”’
7 Jezebel his wife said, ‘Is this how you act as king over Israel? Get up and eat! Cheer up. I’ll get you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.’ (1 Kings 21:3-7 NIV)
Jezebel conspired against Naboth and had him falsely accused of cursing God and the King – he was taken outside the city and stoned until death. She then tells Ahab to go take possession of the vineyard. This vile behavior did not escape God’s attention. He sent Elijah to call them out and tell them of their impending punishment for their wicked behavior.
I’m so thankful that the Lord is patient with me and my self-centered attitude. The more I get to know Him, the less selfish I tend to be. He is the epitome of a self-less person. The Lord set an example of service NOT being served. He is the Son of God and certainly could have been served, but He came to serve. I believe pride and selfishness is one of the number one roadblocks that keep my heart hard. If I really take a step back, I realize that the person who cut me off in traffic doesn’t know me personally. I can’t possibly expect that the world will revolve around my schedule and me. I can act like Ahab and moan or groan. I could even go back to bed sullen and angry. I need to filter my wishes and wants through the eyes of The Lord. I expect my list of wants and wishes will get edited and become much smaller.
Pressing On!
Dwayne