Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine. - Psalm 16: 5 (NLT)
Today we continue with expositing the Golden Psalm, number 16. We all face difficult times in our lives. Whether driven by something catastrophic and sudden or the daily grind of walking in an unforgiving world. One of the greatest misunderstandings new Christians often share is the notion that salvation exempts them from suffering. Unfortunately modern seeker friendly churches tend to stay away from discussing suffering. The reality however is that the more we serve Christ the more we can expect things to mount against us and the more we can expect the enemy to attack. What salvation grants us is the ability to rest in Christ, to have assurance that God is working all things out for our good, and godly contentment and joy found in Christ - not in the world.
Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. - Philippians 4: 11-13 (NLT)
Philippians 4:13 is one of the least understood passages in the Bible. People use it and preach it to mean that we can accomplish anything through Christ. That of course eliminates God's will and sovereignty. What Paul is actually teaching here is the secret to contentment in the world regardless of the circumstances. That we can endure all things through Christ because our strength is found in Him. What a source of godly encouragement!
As is Psalm 16. Picking up in verse five we see three glorious promises we need to focus on when times get tough in our lives. The first such promise is that God alone is our inheritance. This word is so abused in the false gospels pervading the church today. Hucksters in thousand dollar suits step up to pulpits across this land every Sunday to sell a fake god. A god who is there to serve the people. A god who is there to throw open the windows of heaven and rain down blessings upon blessings upon them. A god who has promised them the inheritance of Abraham! They even have their own brand of pseudo worship that is man centered instead of God centered. One such song is actually called, "The Blessing of Abraham" where petulant would be Christians scream out in glee - "Get your inheritance!" But is this what the Psalmist is referring to here? No beloved it is not. The dictionary defines inheritance as follows:
the genetic characters transmitted from parent to offspring, taken collectively.
Now obviously it is true that one definition is the traditional worldly view of the passing on of wealth upon the death of someone. God Himself of course cannot die. Jesus was 100% man and God at the same time but when he breathed His last on the cross it was not God who died. The man Jesus who died that day on Calvary was not a rich man in worldly terms at all.
