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Enjoying Your Inheritance
Psalm 16:5
"The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot."
If I told you that you have a great inheritance coming to you, then you probably would be thrilled. Often we think of an inheritance as something that has been left to us after someone has passed away. However, the inheritance in the verse above is given to us while we are alive. Yet, the inheritance that this verse is talking about is the plight of life that God gives to us. Some would call it the heartaches of life, but God calls it your inheritance. All of us will have struggles that come our way, and when they come we must realize that this is our inheritance in life. When this inheritance comes our way, Psalm 16 shows us how to accept and enjoy it.
First, God tells us to accept its boundaries. Verse 6 says, "The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places;..." The "lines" in this verse is talking about the property lines of your land. God is teaching us that we must accept the hardships that He has given to us. You must accept that your sickness, heartache and plight of life is your inheritance that you must endure. Fighting the boundaries of your life will not help it to become what it is supposed to be. Christian, stop fighting what God has sent your way and accept it as your inheritance.
Second, find the good in your inheritance. Verse 6 calls this inheritance a "goodly heritage." There is good in whatever you are currently facing. Sometimes all you can see in your inheritance is what you don't have, when what you need to look for is what your inheritance does have. There is value in your inheritance of life. Your inheritance of life makes you more valuable to help others.
Third, thank the LORD for your inheritance. Verse 7 says, "I will bless the LORD,..." Christian, when is the last time you thanked God for what you are going through? Too many times we complain to God about what we are going through when He commands us to thank Him for it. Yes, it may be hard to thank God for it, but you must trust God that He is looking out for your best interest. Therefore, thank Him for what you are enduring.
Fourth, don't try to move the lines of your inheritance. Verse 8 says, "I shall not be moved." Determine not to let your inheritance of life change you. What I mean is you must decide that you will not quit on God because of the difficulty of your inheritance. Far too often people quit when the times get tough, when what they should have done is decided they were not going to be moved. Decide right now that you will not allow your hardship to move you away from what God has called you to do.
Fifth, realize it will end someday. Verse 10 says, "For thou will not leave my soul in hell;..." Yes, one day what you are going through will end. I know, sometimes it seems that there is no end in sight, but you must understand that one day the heartaches you face will end. It may be that it will end when we get to Heaven, but realize that Heaven is for an eternity, and this life is only for a few years. If anything, your inheritance can make you look forward to an eternity in Heaven.
Last, stay close to God. Verse 11 says, "...in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." You will never see the good in your life's inheritance if you don't stay close to God. Notice that the Psalmist found joy and pleasures close to God. Likewise, you will only find joy and pleasures in your heartaches if you stay close to God. His presence is what helps you to accept the lines of your inheritance.