Never Happy

No Relation

And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him:  for he said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers.  And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread.  1 Kings 21:4

Discontent is a sin that is its own punishment and makes men torment themselves:  it makes the spirit sad, the body sick, and all the enjoyments sour; it is the heaviness of the heart and the rottenness of the bones.

It is a sin that is its own parent.  It arises not from the condition, but from the mind.  As we find Paul contented in a prison, so Ahab discontent in a palace.  He had all the delights of Canaan, that pleasant land, at command, the wealth of a kingdom, the pleasures of a court, and the honours and powers of a throne:  and yet all this avails him nothing without Naboth's vineyard.

Inordinate desires expose men to continual vexations, and those that are disposed to fret, be they ever so happy, will always find something or other to fret at.  (Matthew Henry)

I read this passage this morning and could not believe it.  Ahab was a very evil king over Israel but he was well off with everything that comes with the king package.  Naboth was a man that happened to own some land near the palace.  Ahab wanted this land for.......wait for it.......A HERB GARDEN!

I couldn't believe it when I read it!  Are you kidding me?  A herb garden?

I'll give this to Ahab--he wasn't going to take it by force and he offered a great deal for the land.  But Naboth was not allowed to give this land away; it was part of his inheritance.  So Naboth told him no and Ahab went home, laid on his bed, and stopped eating.  Major adult pouting taking place.  

What Matthew Henry said in the first paragraph is true--it's a warning to us of what will happen if we place our desires in anything other than Christ.  Inordinate desires--material wealth, material things can be the downfall of us if we let them.  Be content with what you have and don't always wish for bigger and better things.  

And there is that mind word again--it's not the things that are the problem--it's your mindset.

Stay tuned...tomorrow Ahab's wife (Jezebel) walks into the room and discovers what has happened!

Remember I said that if the West Georgia thing was going to happen it would have to be totally God's doing?  Well....I opened up my e-mail today and was informed that my application has gone through and my adviser was anxious to set my classes for this summer or beginning this fall.  I about fell over in my chair; I really thought that door had been closed.

So here we go and I'm starting off claiming victory over anything that comes up.  I will not----I will not make myself or my family miserable pursing this add on degree.   There is a purpose for this so I know His Grace will follow through.