The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Num 18:20  And the LORD spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them: I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel. 

The priests and the Levites who served in the Tabernacle had no inheritance on this earth. They were not given lands as the other tribes. But not to worry, God said: “I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel” (Numbers 18:20b).

Imagine this: God was their portion and inheritance. It reminds me of this Psalm 23:1: “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Those that have God for their inheritance and their portion have everything.

God was their inheritance means the offerings, tithes, firstfruits, other things which were given to God were bestowed upon them. The reason of this law was because God would have them wholly devoted to His service, and therefore free from worldly encumbrances. It is the same reason why Paul wrote that preachers of the word should be supported by the church (1 Corinthians 9:14). Those who devote their lives to serve God should receive so much as to keep their minds from being harassed with cares, and their families from want. No church would want her preacher to moonlight as a tuition teacher or a taxi driver in order to support his family.

Do you know that all Christians are priests of God? (1 Peter 2:9). This means that, our inheritance, as priests in Christ, is God Himself. He is the inheritance we should desire after. He is the reason for our existence and He Himself is our reward.

God selected an inheritance for Abraham that was beyond anything he knew to ask for. He told Abraham: “I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward” (Genesis 15:1). Seeing God Himself as his true reward moved Abraham to forfeit the earthly, temporal riches of Haran in order to claim the eternal wealth which God had promised: “But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city” (Hebrews 11:16).

God was Abraham’s reward. It was evidently the greatest privilege and highest honour to have God for a portion and possession: he who possesses God possesses all things, including heaven.

The Christian, like a loyal Levite and faithful Abraham, prefers God than the land. He has accepted God’s offer to be his God and his portion, and he can say with the apostle Paul: “I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day” (2 Timothy 1:12)

The LORD is our portion and inheritance; He is all we need here on earth and in eternity. While men look for an earthly inheritance, we have ours in heaven. While men yearn for a luxury mansion here on this earth, we have a mansion reserved in heaven for us (John 14:2-3). The apostle Peter describes it in these few words: “To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,” (1 Peter 1:4).

“Incorruptible” means it will never decay. “Undefiled” means it is perfect; there will be no sin in it. “Faded not away” is a picture of a flower that never fades; it means it is good through eternity. “Reserved” means it has already been arranged and kept for us.

Those who have God as their inheritance also have their inheritance in heaven reserved for them. Now the important question: Have you made your reservation?

Jimmy Lau

Psa 119:97  Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.