I Kings 21:4 "And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him . . . And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread."
King Ahab was a beggar that did not know how to be full. In I Kings 21, his priorities were completely out of whack! Ahab's neighbor, Naboth, had a vineyard that backed up to the king's palace. Ahab wanted it for an herb garden, and he made an offer of a replacement vineyard or the value of the vineyard. In the king's mind, there was nothing special about Naboth or the vineyard, but Naboth called it "the inheritance of my fathers." Jezebel then framed Naboth and had him killed-all for a silly vineyard!
What is important to you? What is your highest priority in life right now? You don't have to answer; it's obvious to everyone around you! People know your priorities by what keeps you awake at night, what energizes you during the day, what you have passion for, what you will pay for, and what you pursue. Ahab wanted herbs, so he offered money and eventually took a life! The Bible says of Ahab, "But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up." A person who pursues "low level" priorities sells himself cheaply. Much of what consumes our day is low on the scale of importance. Sometimes herbs aren't worth the price you must pay!
Ahab sold his life cheaply because he pursued cheap things. He was a beggar in a king's palace! It is amazing how much energy and resources we can put into things that don't amount to much. Don't pursue after "herbs" when there is so much more to life. Perspective for your priorities will help you live for the highest priority. As Matthew 6:25 reminds us, "Is not life more than meat, and the body more than raiment?"
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