Scripture Reading: Psalm 16
We have been looking at the Psalms of Moses, particularly Psalm 90 and Psalm 91, where Moses describes God as his refuge, his shelter, and his dwelling place. A refuge is a place where we seek safety, a place we can call home when we are forced to leave our own homes behind. We see refugees coming from various parts of the world into this country because they can no longer remain in their homeland for many different reasons. Whenever we find ourselves searching for a place that we can truly call home, God becomes our refuge.
We also talked about God being our shelter. Moses calls Him his shelter during the stormy blasts of life and from the intense heat that he experienced while living in the wilderness for forty years. Although the Israelites had temporary shelters in the desert, those shelters were never permanent. They could only provide limited protection. Ultimately, God Himself is our shelter when the storms of life come crashing upon us.
Then, in Psalm 90, Moses declares that God is our dwelling place. Not only do we find refuge in Him and become, in a sense, refugees who have found a home in God, and not only is He our shelter from life's storms, but He also becomes our permanent home. He is our eternal dwelling place because He is our eternal God, with whom we will spend eternity. Whatever we inherit in this world is temporary. Our permanent inheritance comes from God and God alone.
That brings us to Psalm 16, the psalm we have read today. This is a Miktam of David. David wrote this psalm as a song of encouragement and comfort while he was running for his life because King Saul was trying to kill him. That is another story that we have discussed before and may revisit later. David was living under the constant threat of death. While fleeing from danger, he stopped to rest, and during that moment he wrote this beautiful psalm.
In this psalm, David speaks about God being his inheritance. Most people—indeed, almost everyone—likes the idea of receiving an inheritance. It is natural to appreciate receiving something from loved ones who have passed away. When someone dies, it is considered a blessing if they leave an inheritance behind.
I heard about a man who arrived at work one day looking very sad. His coworkers asked him what was wrong, and he replied that his uncle had passed away. They expressed their sympathy and told him how sorry they were for his loss. Then, to their surprise, he said, "Last year another uncle passed away and left me a good amount of money. This uncle left me nothing."
That story illustrates how people often think about inheritance. It is certainly a good thing to leave an inheritance for those who come after us. Yet we should also ask ourselves whether those who receive it will use it wisely. We spend our entire lives working hard, earning money, accumulating possessions, and then pass them on, hoping they will be managed well. The truth is, we do not know how others will use what we leave behind.
David discovered through his own life that every earthly inheritance is temporary. Everything we acquire in this world will one day disappear. That is why he declared that God Himself is his inheritance. God is the one inheritance that never fades, never diminishes, and never disappoints. He is the permanent inheritance upon whom David could always depend.
Instead of constantly asking, "What inheritance will I leave for others?" perhaps we should also ask, "What inheritance have I already received?" Whenever someone dies, family members gather together to hear the reading of the will. Sometimes it is a joyful occasion because everyone receives what they expected. At other times it becomes a source of conflict. Brothers begin to argue. Sisters begin to fight. Relatives whom no one has seen for years suddenly appear, claiming a share of the inheritance. Situations like these remind us that inheritance matters deeply to people.
Jesus illustrated this truth in one of His most familiar parables, the story of the prodigal son. A father had two sons. The older son was faithful and obedient. He worked diligently alongside his father in the fields and faithfully carried out his responsibilities. The younger son, however, was not interested in that kind of life. Instead, he decided to ask for his inheritance so that he could leave home.
Think about what that request really meant. An inheritance is normally received after someone dies. By asking for his inheritance while his father was still alive, the younger son was essentially saying, "Father, I wish you were dead so that I could have what belongs to me." He never spoke those exact words, but his actions communicated that message very clearly.
Surprisingly, the father did not become angry. He did not argue with his son. Instead, he divided his property and gave the younger son his share. The son left home believing that the wealth he had received would satisfy him for the rest of his life.
As long as he had money, he had plenty of friends. There were parties, celebrations, and endless enjoyment. Everything seemed wonderful—for a while. But money has a way of running out. Eventually, it was all gone.
As someone once jokingly asked me, "Do you run out of money, or do you run your money out?" Either way, one day it is gone.
That is the reality of earthly wealth. We spend so much time planning our inheritance and accumulating possessions, yet without God, every inheritance eventually becomes worthless. The younger son asked his father, "Give me my inheritance." David, however, prayed a completely different prayer. Instead of saying, "Lord, give me my inheritance," he said, "Lord, You are my inheritance." That one statement changes everything. It completely transforms our perspective on life.
David continues by saying, "The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance."
When families own property and it is divided among several children, the land is separated by boundary lines. Depending on where each portion falls, some children may be happier than others. One parcel may be closer to the road, another may have better access, and another may be more desirable for building. Boundary lines matter because they determine what each person receives.
David uses this familiar picture to describe his relationship with God. He is saying that he does not have to worry about where his inheritance falls because God Himself has already determined his portion. His boundary lines have been established by God, and they have fallen in pleasant places. Therefore, he can rest in complete confidence, knowing that God has given him exactly what he needs.
What a wonderful inheritance that is. David calls it "a delightful inheritance."
People often boast about the property or inheritance they have received. Someone might proudly say, "My grandfather left me two hundred acres of land," or "Our family has owned this property for generations." We naturally take pride in those things.
I was reminded of a story about a Texas rancher who met a dairy farmer from Wisconsin. As they talked, the dairy farmer explained that he owned about 125 acres where he raised his cows and operated a successful dairy business. He spoke enthusiastically about his farm and all that he had accomplished.
The Texas rancher smiled and replied, "One hundred twenty-five acres? That's nothing. On my ranch, I can get into my truck at sunrise, start driving across my property, and I won't reach the fence line until sunset." The dairy farmer simply smiled and answered, "Yes, I used to have a truck like that." Sometimes we become so impressed with the size of our possessions that we forget what really matters.
The background of this psalm reminds us that life is not about how much we inherit or how much property we own. It is about whether we recognize God as our greatest inheritance.
Remember the circumstances under which David wrote these words. He was fleeing from Saul, running for his life. He had no palace, no security, no certainty about tomorrow. Yet in the middle of that crisis he declared that God was his inheritance. How many of us could honestly say the same thing while facing such uncertainty?
David's confidence rested in the goodness of God. When God becomes our inheritance, dissatisfaction loses its power over us. We no longer measure our lives by what we possess because we already possess the greatest treasure imaginable.
David may also have been thinking about the division of the Promised Land under Joshua. After Israel entered the land, Joshua divided the territory among the twelve tribes. Some tribes received larger portions, some smaller. Some undoubtedly thought they received better land than others.
Yet one tribe received no land at all. That was the tribe of Levi. The Levites were chosen to serve as priests before the Lord. Because they belonged to God in a special way, the Lord told them that they would not receive a territorial inheritance like the other tribes.
Instead, God said, "I am your inheritance." Imagine hearing those words. Everyone else received fields, vineyards, cities, and property. The Levites received something far greater. They received God Himself.
Perhaps David remembered that truth as he wrote this psalm. He realized that God's presence was worth infinitely more than any earthly possession.
Sometimes people assume that pastors or priests should receive the greatest rewards. That reminds me of a humorous story I have shared before.
A pastor and a church bus driver both died and arrived in heaven. They stood together in line while angels assigned their heavenly homes. The bus driver stepped forward first. The angel welcomed him warmly and said, "Thank you for faithfully serving the Lord. We have prepared for you that beautiful mansion on the hill." The pastor watched with excitement. He thought to himself, "If the bus driver is receiving a mansion like that, surely I'll receive an even greater one. After all, I've spent my entire life preaching, praying, and serving God's people."
Finally, the angel called the pastor's name. "Welcome, Reverend," the angel said. "Thank you for your years of ministry. We have prepared a place for you." The angel pointed toward a small basement apartment beneath the magnificent mansion that had just been given to the bus driver.
The pastor was shocked. He protested, "I don't understand. I devoted my entire life to preaching the gospel, visiting the sick, praying with people, and serving the church. Why does the bus driver receive that beautiful mansion while I receive this little room?" The angel smiled and replied, "Well, when you preached, people slept. But when the bus driver drove, everyone prayed."
Of course, it is only a humorous story, but it reminds us not to measure God's rewards according to our own standards. Whenever we are tempted to measure our inheritance in acres, dollars, or possessions, we should remember the tribe of Levi. They measured their inheritance not by land but by God's presence. Serving Him was considered greater than owning property, and they accepted that calling without complaint.
David adopts that same perspective. He declares that his boundary lines have already been established by God. God Himself has determined his portion, and that is enough. He trusts the Lord completely because he knows that the inheritance God gives is always the best.
Sometimes God does not give us everything we ask for because He intends to give us something far better if we are willing to wait. After all, what could be better than having God Himself?
More than anything else, we need His presence. His peace cannot be purchased with money. During times of sorrow, grief, disappointment, and hardship, no amount of wealth can buy the comfort that only God can give.
Money cannot purchase genuine relationships either. Sometimes we think it can, but when the money disappears, many of those relationships disappear as well.
There comes a point in our lives when we can honestly pray, "Lord, I have You, and because I have You, I already possess everything that truly matters. I need nothing more."
That was also the testimony of the Apostle Paul. He wrote that he considered everything else in life to be loss compared with the surpassing greatness of knowing Jesus Christ. Knowing Christ became his greatest treasure, and everything else faded in comparison.
Peter made the same choice. He left his fishing business to follow Jesus. Matthew walked away from a profitable career as a tax collector. Paul surrendered his position, influence, and reputation in order to serve the kingdom of God.
The missionary Jim Elliot expressed this truth beautifully when he wrote, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."
Those words perfectly capture David's message. We surrender temporary things in order to receive an eternal inheritance that can never be taken away.
This psalm became so significant that the Apostle Peter quoted it on the Day of Pentecost, as we read in Acts 2. Psalm 16 holds a special place in both Jewish and Christian faith because it is quoted repeatedly throughout the New Testament. Peter reminds us that because Christ lives, our inheritance is secure. As he later wrote in his first letter, our inheritance is "kept in heaven" for us.
Think about the difference between earthly and heavenly inheritance. When we die, we leave behind everything we have accumulated in this world. We leave our homes, our possessions, our investments, and all that we worked so hard to obtain. But if our place has been secured in heaven through Jesus Christ, then when we leave this world, we are not leaving our inheritance behind—we are going to receive it. That is a completely different perspective on life and death.
Earthly inheritances disappear. Stock markets rise and fall. Homes can be destroyed overnight by storms, fire, or disaster. Possessions wear out, our health declines, and even our earthly relationships eventually come to an end. Yet God remains forever. He is our greatest possession and our eternal inheritance.
Many Christians fail to realize how rich they truly are because of what God has already given them through Jesus Christ. We have inherited far more than we often recognize. God gave His own Son for us, and through Christ He has given us Himself.
The world defines success by asking, "What do I own?" As believers, however, we ask a different question: "Whom do I belong to, and who belongs to me?" We belong to God, and He belongs to us. God says, "You are Mine," and we can joyfully say, "The Lord is mine." There is no greater inheritance than that.
So let us not become consumed with the inheritances of this world. Like David, let us find our ultimate inheritance in God alone.
One of the things we spend much of our lives doing is planning what we will leave behind. Proverbs tells us that it is a good thing for a righteous person to leave an inheritance for his children and even for his children's children. Proverbs 13 reminds us of that truth. There is nothing wrong with providing for future generations.
Perhaps, however, there is another question we should ask ourselves. Will any part of what God has entrusted to me continue His work after I am gone?
Every one of us has benefited from the generosity and faithfulness of those who came before us. Think about our own church. People whom we never met donated the land on which this church stands. Others built this building. Someone purchased these pews. Others provided the piano, the music ministry, and supported countless ministries through the years. None of these things appeared by accident. Someone loved God enough to leave something behind so that future generations could continue worshipping Him.
There is an old saying that when old men plant trees, they know they will never sit under their shade. If I were eighty years old and planted a tree today, chances are I would never enjoy its full shade. Yet I would plant it anyway because someone else would benefit from it.
That is exactly how Christians should live. We plant trees whose shade we may never experience ourselves. Future generations will come after us and enjoy the blessings that faithful believers prepared long before they arrived. Much of what we enjoy today exists because someone else planted those trees for us.
Jesus said, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. Instead, store up for yourselves treasures in heaven." He was reminding His followers that earthly possessions are temporary, but heavenly investments endure forever.
I do not know whether I have shared this story with you before, but it comes from the book Acres of Diamonds by Dr. Russell H. Conwell. He tells the story of how Temple Baptist Church in Philadelphia—and eventually Temple University—came into existence.
When Dr. Conwell was a young pastor serving a small church in Philadelphia, he was walking through the church grounds one day when he noticed a little girl standing outside looking very sad. He asked her why she was crying.
She replied, "I wanted to come to Sunday school, but they told me there isn't any room. It's already full."
The pastor was deeply troubled. No child should ever be turned away from Sunday school because there was no room. He personally took the little girl inside and found a place for her in one of the classes. She was overjoyed, and from that day forward she became closely attached to both the church and her pastor.
None of her family attended the church, although they lived nearby. Yet that little girl continued coming faithfully.
Unknown to anyone else, she went home thinking about all the other children who might also be turned away because there was not enough room. That burden remained in her heart.
A couple of years later, the little girl became seriously ill and passed away. Because her family had no church home, they asked Pastor Conwell to conduct the funeral.
Afterward, her parents handed him a small purse that had been found among her belongings. Inside were fifty-seven cents and a handwritten note.
The note simply read, "This is to help build a bigger church so more children can come to Sunday school."
The little girl had been quietly saving her pennies because she wanted other children to have the opportunity she almost missed.
Pastor Conwell was deeply moved. The following Sunday, with tears in his eyes, he held up the little purse and read the note to the congregation.
The entire church was touched.
Among those present that morning was a real estate agent who knew of a piece of land the church had wanted for quite some time but could never afford to purchase.
After the service he approached Pastor Conwell and said, "I will sell the land to the church."
The purchase price?
Fifty-seven cents.
That remarkable story was reported in the newspapers, and people from everywhere began sending contributions. Within just a few weeks, the church had received approximately $250,000—a tremendous amount of money in those days.
From that single act of faith grew Temple Baptist Church, where thousands would worship. Eventually Temple University was established, educating countless students over the generations. Good Samaritan Hospital in Philadelphia also traces its roots back to that ministry.
All of it began because one little girl believed that fifty-seven cents, given to God, could make a difference.
If you visit that campus today, you will find her picture displayed, along with Pastor Conwell's, and a copy of his famous book, Acres of Diamonds. It stands as a beautiful reminder that no gift given to God is ever too small when it is offered with a willing heart.
That little girl planted a tree whose shade she never lived to enjoy. Yet generations after her have found blessing because of her simple faith and generous heart.
Every generation of Christians faces the same decision. You and I face that decision today. Every gift given to God's kingdom is a seed that we plant. Some of those seeds become missionaries. Some become churches. Some become Bibles translated into new languages. Others become children hearing about Jesus Christ for the very first time. We may never know in this life how God uses the seeds we sow, but He promises that none of them are ever wasted.
I was speaking recently with someone about estate planning. She lived alone and was trying to decide how to distribute her assets. She had thoughtfully planned gifts for nieces, nephews, other family members, and even a close friend. As we talked, I gently asked her, "May I ask you one more question? How much have you set aside for your church?"
She paused for a moment and replied, "You know, I hadn't even thought about that."
Then I asked, "How long have you attended that church?"
"All my life," she answered.
Sometimes we simply forget. We think carefully about what we will leave for our families, and rightly so, but we seldom stop to consider what we might leave for the work of God's kingdom. The inheritance we leave our children is intended to bless the next generation. If they are faithful stewards, perhaps it will continue to bless their children as well. In the same way, what we leave for God's work can continue to bear fruit for generations that we will never meet.
I am not suggesting that anyone go home today and rewrite your will. That is a deeply personal decision between you and God. But I do encourage each of us to pray a simple prayer:
"Lord, everything I have belongs to You. You are my inheritance, and everything else is simply a gift You have entrusted to me. Help me to use what You have given me so that others may come to know You, just as I have come to know You."
God's kingdom should have a place in our estate planning because it is the only investment that will continue bearing fruit for eternity. Like the old man who plants a tree whose shade he will never enjoy, we invest in God's kingdom knowing that future generations will benefit from our faithfulness.
David discovered that his greatest inheritance was not what he could leave behind but the God who would never leave him behind. That is God's promise to every believer. He is a faithful God who never breaks His promises.
When God becomes our inheritance, everything else changes. Our possessions are no longer our security; they become gifts entrusted to us for a season. Our homes, our savings, our investments, and every material blessing we enjoy are temporary stewardships. We are privileged to use them wisely while they are in our hands, but we recognize that they ultimately belong to God.
That perspective brings tremendous freedom. We no longer cling tightly to the things of this world because our treasure is secure in heaven. We become grateful stewards rather than anxious owners. We enjoy God's blessings without allowing those blessings to become our identity or our security.
David understood that truth. While he was fleeing for his life, without certainty about tomorrow and with no guarantee of safety, he could still proclaim with confidence, "Lord, You are my chosen portion and my inheritance." His confidence was not rooted in what he possessed but in whom he possessed.
The same invitation is extended to each one of us today. We may not know what tomorrow holds. We cannot guarantee our health, our finances, or even the length of our lives. Markets fluctuate, possessions deteriorate, relationships change, and circumstances can shift overnight. Yet through every season of life, God remains unchanged.
He is our refuge when we have nowhere else to go. He is our shelter when the storms of life rage around us. He is our eternal dwelling place when everything else passes away. And, above all, He is our inheritance—the one treasure that can never be taken from us.
May we live with that eternal perspective. May we hold the things of this world with open hands while holding tightly to the God who holds us forever. May we faithfully steward every blessing He has entrusted to us, using our time, our talents, our resources, and our opportunities to advance His kingdom, knowing that the seeds we plant today will continue to bear fruit long after we are gone.
And when our journey on this earth is complete, we will not merely leave behind an inheritance—we will enter into the inheritance that Christ has prepared for us from the foundation of the world.
May the good Lord bless us with these truths as we leave this place. May He help us to be faithful stewards of every blessing He has entrusted to us, always remembering that our greatest inheritance is not what we possess, but the God who possesses us. Amen.
Comments
Post a Comment