1 Kings 21:1-4 – Don’t be covetous

Everything King Ahab did was in contradiction with the will of God. Whether in religion, trade, military, or foreign policy, he had never had the interest of God or his subject in mind. In 1 Kings 21:1-4, Ahab showed himself to have no regard for what God said concerning not coveting a neighbor’s property. The Tenth Commandment in Exodus 20:17 states that one …shall not covet his neighbor’s house; … wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to one’s neighbor.

In the account, we are told that Naboth had a vineyard that was located next to Ahab’s palace in Jezreel in Samaria. This king eyed that vineyard for he wanted to turn it into a vegetable garden for himself. But to Naboth, the property he had inherited from his forefathers was his treasured possession. The law concerning land that had been allotted to a person should remain in the possession of the family. In difficult circumstances, a person could use it to alleviate his hard times within his clan. In essence, there should be no sales of ancestral land. But in this case, Ahab coveted his land which was in violation of the tenth commandment.

In verse 2 Ahab told Naboth saying, “Give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a vegetable garden because it is close beside my house, and I will give you a better vineyard than it in its place; if you like, I will give you the price of it in money.” The latter refused to give up the land. He said, “The Lord forbid me that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.” Naboth’s refusal to let him have the land drove Ahab into acting like a spoiled and immature child. He went home and lay on his bed, sulking and refusing to take any food.

One lesson we take away from these four verses is not to be covetous. Know it or not, covetousness has a ferocious and insatiable appetite. Simply put, covetousness always makes one crave for the wealth or possession that belongs to another inordinately. Take heed to what Jesus said in Luke 12:16 concerning covetousness. He  said, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.” Paul said that godliness with contentment is great gain! One way to counter this ill is to cultivate an attitude of gratitude. In everything remember to give thanks. A thankful heart will keep you contented!