In a 2001 Times Magizine cover article entilted, “Power Struggle-whose in charge” and in this article, a vivid example of a somewhat epidemic was given. It reads: Here is a parenting parable for our age. Carla Wagner, 17, of Coral Gables, Fla., spent the afternoon drinking the tequila she charged on her American Express Gold Card before speeding off in her high-performance Audi A4. She was dialing her cell phone when she ran over Helen Marie Witty, a 16-year-old honor student who was out Rollerblading. Charged with drunken driving and manslaughter, Carla was given a trial date — at which point her parents asked the judge whether it would be O.K. if Carla went ahead and spent the summer in Paris, as she usually does.”
Spoiled rotten! We see it all the time. Whether it’s the temper tantrum thrown at Wal-Mart, the teenager on TV yelling at his parents, we seem to have a million Nelly Olsons out there, and each of them demanding they get what they want when they want it. Now as bad as a spoiled kid may be, there’s something far worse, and that is a spoiled adult, especially a spoiled adult in a position of power. Ahab was one such person, he was spoiled through and through, and what he saw he wanted, and Lord have mercy on anyone who stood in his way.
Now as we start this text, we’re going to find that Ahab is like many of us in that he wanted something he couldn’t have. Look at vs. 1-2, “1 Some time later there was an incident involving a vineyard belonging to Naboth the Jezreelite. The vineyard was in Jezreel, close to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. 2 Ahab said to Naboth, "Let me have your vineyard to use for a vegetable garden, since it is close to my palace. In exchange I will give you a better vineyard or, if you prefer, I will pay you whatever it is worth."
Now this must have been a beautiful vineyard, and it was right next to the summer home of Ahab, only problem was is that it wasn’t his. But hey, that’s really no problem, because Ahab was a powerful man, and Ahab always got what Ahab wanted. Ahab was used to just snapping his fingers, and people running to answer his request. Much in the same way as a celebrity might make some crazy request yet they always seem to get answered. I found out this week that in her contracts, Christina Aguilerra demands that she has a police escort to and from each event, because she doesn’t like to wait in traffic. Pop star Jennifer Lopez, better known as J-Lo, I think I’m going to shorten my name to B-Ro, was going to do a charity event for the victims of 9/11, but in her contract she demanded that prior to the diva’s arrival, there will be in place a white Room, with white flowers, white tablecloth, white candles, white couches, and then she had to have certain music cd’s available, I’m not sure what they were but I’m guessing Barry White was somewhere on there. No matter how crazy the request, if you’re used to every person doing exactly what you told them to do, then you become used to getting what you want, no matter what it is.
So imagine the horror on Ahab’s face when Naboth says…”No, you can’t have it!” In fact, Naboth goes further, look at vs. 3, “But Naboth replied, "The LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers." Naboth’s actions were not prompted by monetary considerations, but by biblical principles. When God gave the land of Canaan to Israel, He divided it among the tribes of Israel. Given the nature of men, the land (like money) would have tended to accumulate into the hands of the few. And so the rich would get richer, and the poor would get poorer. God set down some very specific laws in Leviticus 25:8-17, 23-34 and Deuteronomy 25:5-10. These laws prevented the land from permanently changing hands, outside the family or tribe to which it was allotted. Because of these laws, Naboth knew that he could not sell or trade his land. It was not just that Naboth was being unreasonable; this was something he could not do, according to the law, and thus it was something he would not do, even if the king made him a deal that was tempting.
Let’s give Naboth a lot of credit here, no only is here refusing a tempting offer, but remember this is an offer from a ruthless tyrannical dictator. Yet Naboth wasn’t about to budge because Naboth was a man driven by Principles. You see, no matter how tempting the offer was, Naboth had to refuse because God said so. And Naboth had made up in his mind that he would be obedient to God’s law, and everything else would come 2nd.
You know, I wish I could say we were all like that, but the truth be told, it doesn’t take much for us to waiver on our convictions and our principles, especially if it is beneficial to us. Wayne Smith told about a man who was applying for special insurance, and the insurance agent asked him, "How old is your mother?" He said, "She’s dead." "How old was she when she died?" "She was forty-one." "What did she die of?" "Tuberculosis." "How old is your father?" "He’s dead." "How old was he when he died?" "Forty-three." "What did he die of?" "Heart attack." The agent tore up the form and said, "You’re a terrible risk! There’s no way you can get this special insurance; your heredity is not good."
So the man went to another agent, and the agent asked the same questions: "How old is your father?" "He’s dead." "How old was he when he died?" "Ninety-four." "What did he die of?" "He fell off a horse, playing polo." The agent said, "How old is your mother?" "She’s dead." "How old was she when she died?" "Ninety-one." "What did she die of?” "Childbirth." What we wouldn’t sacrifice just for something as small as a discount…but what if it was more? Would you still keep your integrity for let’s say…10 million dollars?
In his book, When God Whispers Your Name, Max Lucado tells the story of a hypothetical game show. In this show, you are on stage, and the spot light is on you. He writes, “It can be yours. It can be all yours. The choice is up to you. The only question you have to answer is, ‘What is your price?’” Applause rings again, the band plays, and you swallow hard. Behind you a second curtain opens, revealing a large placard. “What are you willing to give?” is written on the top. The host explains the rules. “All you have to do is agree to one condition and you will receive the money.” “Ten million dollars!” you whisper to yourself. Not one million or two, but ten million. No small sum. Nice nest egg. Ten million bucks would go a long way, right? Tuition paid off. Retirement guaranteed. Would open a few doors on a few cars or a new house (or several).
You could be quite the benefactor with such a sum. Help a few orphanages. Feed a few nations. Build some church buildings. Suddenly you understand: This is the opportunity of a lifetime. “Take your pick. Just choose one option and the money is yours.”
A deep voice from another microphone begins reading the list. “Put your children up for adoption.” “Become a prostitute for a week.” “Give up your American citizenship.” “Abandon your church.” “Abandon your family.” “Kill a stranger.” “Have a sex-change operation.” “Leave your spouse.” “Change your race.” “That’s the list,” the host proclaims. “Now make your choice.”
Now what would you pick? The sad thing is, is that most people would pick something. In a national survey that asked the same question, many said what they would do. Seven percent of those who answered would murder for the money. Six percent would change their race. Four percent would change their sex. If money is the gauge of the heart, then this study revealed that money is on the heart of most Americans. In exchange for ten million dollars: 25 percent would abandon their family. 25 percent would abandon their church. 23 percent would become a prostitute for a week. 16 percent would give up their American citizenship. 16 percent would leave their spouse. 13 percent would put their children up for adoption. Even more revealing than what Americans would do for ten million dollars is that most would do something. Two-thirds of those polled would agree to at least one—some to several—of the options. The majority, in other words, would not leave the stage empty-handed. They would pay the price to own the wheelbarrow.
That’s a sad truth of today’s world. We would throw aside just about anything, all for some money. Yet not Naboth. Naboth could have been offered the world, yet he knew what God said, God said no, so no matter how pleasing the offer was, Naboth’s answer would be no, and that was his final answer.
And Ahab couldn’t understand it. Ahab did not share the same convictions about God’s law like Naboth did. And since he didn’t, he couldn’t understand why he wouldn’t take him up on his offer.
Now in this world, folks will think you our odd if you don’t follow their value system. They think it strange that you would put family above promotion, they think it odd that you would say no to sinful pleasures because of your faith, they think it odd that you would value integrity over profit.
I remember one of those 80’s family sitcoms named “Family Matters”, you might remember Erkel…that show. On the show Carl, the Dad played a cop, and when he gave this big time actor a ticket, the actor tried to bribe him with tickets to his show and money…and then he said “and no one would ever know.” Now this Dad’s kids wanted to go to the show, which was sold out, but Carl had integrity, and I’ll never forget what he said, he said, “Sounds good, but the problem is that I have to shave every day.” The actor looked at him strangely, then Carl said, “And in order to shave, I have to look in the mirror, and if I did what you want me to do, I couldn’t stand to even look at myself.” There are some things more important that money…faith, family, and integrity.
Naboth had integrity, but Ahab wasn’t about to stop. He was going to get what he wanted one way or another. So after Naboth said no, Ahab did what every spoiled person does when they don’t get there way…he pouted. Look at vs. 4 “So Ahab went home, sullen and angry because Naboth the Jezreelite had said, "I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers." He lay on his bed sulking and refused to eat.”
Even though Ahab had almost the entire Kingdom at his disposal, he was throwing a fit because he didn’t have that one vineyard. Matthew Henry wrote that discontentment is a sin that is its own punishment.” If you are discontent you are never satisfied, and you are never happy.
As Ahab is pouting, enter his wife, the evil Jezebel. And Jezebel reminds Ahab that he is the king, and as a king he is entitled to get what he wants. Kings are entitled to get what they want, when they want. Let me stray for just a second here and say that many of you may feel that you are entitled to something. You were born in America, then you are entitled to receive benefits from the government. Your were brought up in a wealthy home, thus you are entitled to be treated with respect. Some people think that they since they are a somewhat good person, that somehow God owes them something. Well, friends let me tell you that God owes you nothing whatsoever. Which makes the fact that he has given you everything that much more impressive.
Well, Jezebel says that Ahab should act like a king. Now this woman is evil to the core. Naboth has insulted her husband by having the audacity to say no…so now this is no longer just about a vineyard, this is about revenge. So she concocts a plan. Look at vs. 7. Jezebel his wife said, "Is this how you act as king over Israel? Get up and eat! Cheer up. I’ll get you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite." 8 So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, placed his seal on them, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth’s city with him. 9 In those letters she wrote: "Proclaim a day of fasting and seat Naboth in a prominent place among the people. 10 But seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them testify that he has cursed both God and the king. Then take him out and stone him to death."
The orders were carried out, Naboth was not only killed, but now his reputation was ruined. He was now a blasphemer and Ahab got not only the vineyard he always wanted, but also the integrity Naboth had was now ruined in the people’s minds. Such injustice. And all over a piece of land.
Now, though Jezebel thought that what she had gotten away with murder, but God saw it all. One lesson we all need to learn is that a secret sin on earth is an open scandal in heaven. And the injustice on earth was met with the judgment of God. Look at vs. 20, “Ahab said to Elijah, "So you have found me, my enemy!" Now notice how the king of God’s people called God’s prophet his enemy. Vs. 21 “I have found you," he answered, "because you have sold yourself to do evil in the eyes of the LORD. 21 ’I am going to bring disaster on you. I will consume your descendants and cut off from Ahab every last male in Israel--slave or free. 22 I will make your house like that of Jeroboam son of Nebat and that of Baasha son of Ahijah, because you have provoked me to anger and have caused Israel to sin.’ 23 "And also concerning Jezebel the LORD says: ’Dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.’ 24 "Dogs will eat those belonging to Ahab who die in the city, and the birds of the air will feed on those who die in the country."
Now the judgment on Jezebel was fulfilled in 2 Kings 9, but something amazing happened with Ahab. This cold heartless man was confronted with the judgment of God, and he actually humbled himself. And because he did this, God relented on His judgment. No one is so coldhearted that they could never respond to God’s invitation, so if you know someone who you are trying to share the Gospel with, keep trying.
Now, there are some practical applications we can pull from this, first one is this, don’t covet that which doesn’t belong to you. There is a reason God included “Thou shalt not Covet” into the ten commandments, and that is because it is so dangerous. James 4:2 in the Living Bible says, “You want what you don’t have, so you kill to get it. You long for what others have, and can’t afford it, so you start a fight to take it away from them .” Make it a point to not covet other people’s things, whether it’s your neighbors new car, your sister’s wealthy husband, or your friends promotion.
The 2nd application is this, don’t compromise your principles even if the offer to do so sounds beneficial. Often times the offer will sound so good and tempting, and the devil will whisper that it won’t hurt just this once, but nothing can be farther from the truth. The bible says that a man will reap what he sows, and I want you to know that the pain of the sowing far exceeds the pleasure of the sowing.
And lastly, humble yourself before God and repent so that he will relent His judgment and forgive you of all your sins. Make no mistake about it, God does punish sin, but God would rather forgive you. And it doesn’t matter what you’ve done, or how cold your heart may be, you could even be a cold hearted murder like Ahab…but God can forgive you. Sam Houston was the first president of the Republic of Texas. He was a pretty rough guy with a checkered past, yet later in his life he came to receive Christ as the forgiver of his sins and the leader of his life. As he was being baptized in the river, the preacher said to him, “Sam, your sins are all washed away.” Sam Houston replied, “God help the fish.”
You see, you may have a bad past, but it doesn’t matter how rotten you were, what matters is who do you want to be now. God is not some heartless judge who can’t wait to punish you, but rather He is a compassionate Father who stands eager to forgive…if you will humble yourself before Him, acknowledge your need, repent, and ask for it. And I want to invite you to do that this morning.
