Our Royal Inheritance
During the Middle Ages and the Renaissance it was customary for monarchs to provide their heirs with substantial inheritances. Such inheritances usually consisted of stately homes, castles, palaces, land and of course money. Generous inheritances allowed these members of the social elite to continue living the luxurious and often opulent lives to which they had become accustomed. Spiritually, our King provides us with a great inheritance. According to Christ, the meek will indeed inherit the earth. Additionally, through faith the Lord gives his children great access to his enormous wealth and providence. Thus Jesus asserts " ask and you shall receive seek and you shall find...abide in me and I in you and you shall ask whatever you will and it shall be done for you." However, our inheritance from God does not simply consist of material wealth. As Princes and Princesses we are recipients of an abundance of spiritual gifts as well. These gifts are beautifully described by the Apostle Paul in his epistle to the church in Corinth:
Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same spirit. Now there are differences
of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations
but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the
Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given the word of
wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another
faith by the same Spirit; to another gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another
the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another the discerning of Spirits;
to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues.
(I Corinthians 12:4-10)
Indeed, as described by Paul, every good and perfect gift is from above.
Although our Father the Great King provides us with an amazing inheritance, there are important principals that He calls us to embrace as his children. These principals establish new and radical ways of viewing wealth that defy convention:
1. Although spiritually we are Princes and Princesses , and God desires for us to have fine things, we are called to avoid extreme material excesses.
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and dust
doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt,
and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure
is, there will your heart be also. Matthew 6:19-21
Additionally, Jesus expressed the superiority of spiritual wealth over the material riches of the world:
The ground of a rich man had brought forth plentifully: And he thought
within himself, saying "What shall I do, because I have no where to bestow
my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and
build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and goods. And I
will say to my soul, Soul thou hast much goods laid up for many years;
take thine ease, eat drink and be merry. But God said to him, Thou fool,
this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things
be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasures for himself,
and is not rich towards God. Luke 12:16-21
Such excesses divert our heart and desire from important spiritual priorities and pursuits. It is not sinful to acquire beautiful possessions. But do we need million dollar homes and extensive collections of antique cars and other miscellaneous items? Beware of extremes when it comes to the accumulation of wealth.
2. Be committed to sharing your wealth, first with those of the household of God.
Thus, the Apostle Paul asserts in his epistle to his young protege Timothy:
Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high minded, nor trust
in uncertain, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.
That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing
to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against
the time to come, that they may lay hold of eternal life. I Timothy 6: 17-19.
Additionally, Jesus assures us that by giving, we set into motion God's reciprocal system of abundance:
Give and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and
shaken together, and running over, shall men give unto your bosom.
For with the same measure that ye mete withal (use in measuring anything)
it shall be measured you again. Luke 6:38