Luke 15:12, 13.

“And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.” NKJV

Portions, possessions and substance as KJV Bible states are a very emotive subject that is deeply rooted in many people’s hearts everywhere in the world, especially in connection with inheritance from parents, alive or dead. This subject has been a centre of a lot of controversy, hatred, suspicion and infighting world over and no region can claim to be free from this subject. Children assume the right to inherit their parent’s properties, estates and substances. Many of us have witnessed long drawn court cases regarding children contesting their parent’s last will and testament concerning such matters when they think that they have been short charged and in some cases when avarice pushes them to do so.

I have previously written about portions, presumptions and today I am stressing this point because of its uttermost importance and significance in our Spiritual lives. When a pastor’s Spiritual life is incorrect then it is also obvious that the followers of such pastors will definitely have their Spiritual lives twisted as well. Today you hear many a church leaders testifying of how much God has given them in terms of earthly wealth and other worldly possessions and they have actually forsaken teaching the true Gospel of God in order to support such lifestyles.

The prodigal son demanded his portion from the father while the father was alive, as we commonly know; this is completely outrageous going by such standards. This shows how much the world is changing whereby children disrespect their parents because they are so much pre-occupied with earthly possessions that they are willing to go to any length to achieve what they have purposed to do. In such a manner, some people in leadership of the church today continue to pursue materialistic goals instead of Spiritual goals, this is very prevalent across the world, and it is not unique or localized to Africa alone where some have testified to the fact that they entered into ministry because there were no jobs to be had.

Others have created sub-ministries with all sorts of good intentioned projects that are not genuine at all; this is all in pursuit of amassing as much as they can in terms of wealth even if it means diverting funds meant for projects. They are willing to go to any crooked length to achieve this. True Ministers today need to have their priorities right, Spiritual empowerment of their flocks should be their priority number one, and not the other way round. Jesus, in His infinite wisdom did not keep quite about what His Ministers should prioritize, in Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” this is a clear indication that Spiritual inheritance should occupy the forefront of our ministries and efforts.

Let it be noted that I am not against genuine ministers of the Gospel, no, please let no one misunderstand me or my intentions for it is with deep sorrow that we are seeing at this age and time how most people have come to worship wealth instead of God and are willing to go to any length to acquire such wealth even if it means compromising Gospel and their messages to accommodate their errant benefactors in the congregations. As a Minister of the Word I am deeply saddened to see so many people led astray by self seeking impersonators of God’s ministers, I feel the pain knowing the hellfire awaits them because John in the Epistles cautions all against trusting spirits without first testing them.

Psalm 142:4, 5

“Look on my right hand and see, For there is no one who acknowledges me; Refuge has failed me; No one cares for my soul. I cried out to You, O LORD: I said, “You are my refuge, My portion in the land of the living.”

King David wrote this Psalm when he was hiding in a cave while fleeing from Saul’s constant persecutions and yet he is not praying for his safety of refuge on earth per see.  He looked roundabout and found that no man or earthly refuge could give him comfort; this somebody God had anointed king while another king was reigning. It is important understand that according Him, Saul ceased to be king immediately David was anointed but he clung to power. God had denounced Saul as king because he had such passion for material possessions and wealth that he disobeyed God’s instructions to completely annihilate the all Amalekites.   God choose for Himself a king who was focused on things beyond which the earth can never provide, ‘a man after my own heart’ was His own testimony of such a man.

David’s focus, though in danger and discomfort was on heavenly or Spiritual things, he wanted God to be his refuge and portion not in this world but in the land of the living. The heart of a true servant of God should be centered on things that are of God, which are Spiritual. When God is your refuge and portion in the land of the living, I can assure you that even the earthly substances will follow you effortlessly without twisting the Gospel to achieve them. Today, many people want to be told that they will be blessed with material possessions but are less enthusiastic to listen to a message that tells them to repent and receive forgiveness of their sins, anybody doubting this, is highly encouraged to do research on congregation’s response to various types of messages delivered in churches today.

Deuteronomy 10: 8, 9

“At that time the LORD separated the tribe of Levi to bear the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister to Him and to bless in His name, to this day. Therefore Levi has no portion nor inheritance with his brethren; the LORD is his inheritance, just as the LORD your God promised him.”

God knew the emotive and corrupting influence ownership of portions; inheritance, substances and other materials things had and still have on the hearts and minds of people. I suppose that is why He intentionally denied the sons of Levi any earthly inheritance; He separated them for a purpose, His own purposes. God knew this and Jesus acknowledges it when He said one cannot serve two masters earthly and heavenly. God is the most generous rewarder rivalled to none in the world over. God specifically ordered that Levi and his sons get no portion alongside his brethren when they were settling in the land of their inheritance, Canaan, this is a clear indication that God had and still has problems with His servants being preoccupied with such matters.

Service before God is based on the truth of His Word, and He meets the needs of those who serve Him. However some people today have reversed the order here whereby the Word serves the needs of servants. The sons of Levi had God for their inheritance, God promised Abraham the father of faith something similar in Genesis 15:1 “ After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” When God says something, He knows how, who, when and where He will go or do about it, what remains for us to do is to obey and take His Word and move as He guides, never worrying for tomorrow because God is able to richly provide for every need that comes in the way of His servants.

I am greatly comforted by the fact that there are many servants of God who serve Him in truth and in Spirit, brethren be encouraged, cheer up all is not lost, because God is still in control. God ably provides for His true servants with happiness beyond what all earthly possessions and portions could ever provide. God says in the Epistle of James 1:16 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” This surely tells us and assures us that God is faithful and fulfilling, therefore we should serve Him without fear that He might change His mind; He never abandons His own, never, never, never. Armies and other services in defense have such mottos “such as such corps never leaves a man behind, dead or alive” most willingly people believe such words from men, but find it difficult to believe the Word of God that He is more faith than a man can be.

Let me say a prayer for you, our heavenly Father, in the Mighty Living Name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, I pray for the reader of this devotional that You may empower him/her as he/she endeavors to lead a correct life style and ministry to suit Your eternal purposes, that he/she may live to fulfill such purposes continually. For I know that without Your help he/she can’t make it, Your assistance is urgently required in this important matter, it is in the name of Jesus that I pray and believe, Amen.

This devotional was written by Bishop Joseph Koburu Mukiira of Maximum Victory and Joy Worship Centre Nairobi – Kenya and brought to you courtesy of Journey 2 Joy International Ministries Inc. USA.