Dont Sell Out

Don’t sell out.

1 Kings 21:1-3

1-3 And it came to pass after these things, that Naboth, the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab, king of Samaria. And Ahab spoke unto Naboth, saying, give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near unto my house, and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it, or if it seem good to thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money. And Naboth said to Ahab, the Lord forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee.

Ahab was known as the most wicked king to ever exist. Jeroboam, the first king of the 10 tribes, was said that he laid the foundation of sin for all of the people. And as the time progressed, the Kings just grew all the worse.

Not only was Ahab evil, but his wife Jezebel, was also a very wicked person. Ahab had the prime choice of all of the land throughout the kingdom, yet they were not satisfied with what they had.

There is almost a tell of two tales as we read deeper into the text. One of giving up, and another of greed.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine……

Everything in the word of God is for us today. Of every story, there is a deeper story. Of every physical application, there is a spiritual application. For every problem that we could possibly have in life today, there is a solution for us, and it is in the word of God.

Naboth refused to sell his vineyard for any price, even to serve the political machine of king Ahab. He could have gotten better lands, or perhaps lived in financial security for the rest of his life, but this was no ordinary piece of real estate. This was the inheritence of his father. This was his spiritual connection to the blessings of Abraham. God forbid that he sell out his inheritance in God for any price or any reason.

Naboth could not be bought, so he was killed. Jezebel had him murdered, so that her husband could have a new piece of property. Of all of the despicable acts of Ahab, this one received special recognition from God. The wrath of God was kindled when Ahab crossed the line of generational blessing, and stole Naboths inheritence in the Lord.

Don’t sell out.

Daniel in the first chapter would not give in.- He refused to eat at the kings table, in saying that it would defile him.

When it came time for the king to make a decree, that no one was to pray, Daniel did not give in. He still prayed to his God, no matter what the king told him to do.

Daniels friends, shadrach, meshack, and abendigo, likewise did not give in, when the king commanded them to bow down and worship the golden image.

Don’t sell out.

If you remain faithful to God, he will remain faithful to you. In the case of Naboth, we see that the end result of his life, was dying for what he believed was right. And in a sense what happens when we answer the call of the Lord on our lives, is we begin to die out to things that used to be appealing to us.

Because the bible tells me, that it is no longer I that liveth, but Christ who liveth in me. We can see that, what we have is worth dying for.

When the situation of temptation arises, and it will, I’ve got to tell you, don’t sell out.

There is something to be said for someone who stands up for what they believe. 3 Hebrew children were given the choice, bow, or burn. The bible says in 3:24 the king spoke up and said, didn’t we throw 3 men bound up into the midst of the fire? He said lo, I see 4 men loose, and walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt, and the form of the 4th is like the son of God.

They stood up for what they knew was right, and The Son of God showed up, just like he will in your situation. There are some here tonight who are about to be faced with a temptation, where you are going to have to look like a fool for Christ, or go with the flow and do what everyone else is doing.

If you will only stand up for what is right, God will give the reward. By the 3 standing up for what they knew was right, The king of the land promoted them, and made a new law, that no one in the land was to speak a word against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abendego.