...and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance
that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled,
beyond the reach of change and decay. 1 Peter 1:4 NLT
Jesus accuses the scribes and Pharisees, the religious right of their day, of this very thing. "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence." (Matthew 23:25) Jesus basically curses these religious elitists for their pious public behavior that covers up what is really going on in their rebel hearts. How many times have I done this? Too many times to count! The word for "greed" here is translated as "covetousness" other places in the New Testament and basically means wanting what doesn't rightfully belong to you. Guilty in this context too, I'm afraid!
But what if this desire for more is really a God characteristic that sin has skewered in our hearts and minds, that of misplaced desire. There's a surprising story in Genesis that opens up a new understanding of "more" for me, one that bears the positive outcome we all need.
Jacob is referred to over and over again in the Bible as one of three patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) with whom God establishes a life-giving covenant that will bless not only their family, but will also eventually bless the entire world. But Jacob's spot in that trifecta was unlikely. A little back story here opens up the significance of the story which I would like to share.
Jacob was a twin. He was named Jacob because he was holding the heel of his brother while he was being born. (Genesis 25:26) The word Jacob means "one who supplants." To supplant means to usurp or take the rightful place of another. We see in the following chapters how Jacob successfully schemes to take both his older brother Esau's birthright and blessing, the two most important things an oldest son could receive or inherit from his father. This, of course, puts a lot of strain (to say the least!) on the relationship between the brothers. So a scheming Rebekah sends Jacob away to her brother Laban to find a wife (for his own protection), unwittingly sending him from "the frying pan into the fire," so to speak! Jacob falls in love with the beautiful, but younger daughter Rachel but falls prey to his uncle Laban's scheming and marries the less beautiful older daughter Leah. He marries the beautiful Rachel but spends years under the thumb of his duplicitous uncle. Four wives and twelve children later Jacob escapes from his devious Uncle Laban an insanely wealthy man. He had it all from a worldly perspective, except for possibly what we might consider normal, loving relationships! And thus we find Jacob, peace offering to his brother Esau in hand, moving back home. Jacob is fearful, probably has been his entire life for what trickster is ever safe from his wrongdoing? On the last leg of his journey he sends his entourage ahead and stays behind. So far it's not a very hopeful story.
But here's where the story gets good! Let's pick it up in Genesis 32. Now all alone, Jacob finds himself in confrontation with a man who wrestles with him all night. As dawn is breaking something very significant happens in the life of Jacob that changes everything! He asks the man, God himself as Jacob soon discovers, to bless him. This is extremely significant to our understanding because to bless means to bow the knee, show honor and give an inheritance. Once again, Jacob wanted more. Sound familiar?
What God gives Jacob is not more physical inheritance, for He's already done that. I believe what God gives Jacob here is a spiritual inheritance. This is reflected in the name change that occurs. God now calls Jacob, Israel. The name Israel means "God prevails." This is such a huge gift for Jacob because he no longer has to live up to the reputation of being a schemer but can rely wholly on the absolute faithfulness of God.
The New Testament writers acknowledged that this inheritance is God Himself. Peter, who was about as close to Jesus as anyone could have been, writes these words of encouragement to believers who had been driven out of Rome by the conniving emperor Nero.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born
again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus
Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable,
undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by
God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation
ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice,
though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been
grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of
your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though
it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory
and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Though you have not seen him, you love him.
Though you do not now see him, you believe in him
and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled
with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith,
the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:3-9
These words are for us as well. This spiritual inheritance, Jesus Christ Himself, belongs to us too. We would do well to ask from God, as Jacob did, for more. More of Himself. When we ask for more of God we turn greed on its head, for having more of God is the only way that "more" gets us what we truly want and need.
On Sunday my pastor, Dan Nold, introducing a new series on the Engaged Life asked what a "life without walls" might look like. I leave you with this because I think it begins to explore what a life with more of God might look like. Here is a working definition of what this engaging, life without walls life might look like.
Life without walls is a life of passionate worship
rather than passive attendance. It goes beyond
consumerism to surrender and sacrifice.
It is a life of intense joy,
engaging Jesus in a mission to love others and the world.
Dan Nold
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