“I will be happy when this week is finally over with!” or “I will be happy when I make it rich!” or “I will be happy when I get a new truck…job…friend…vineyard!” It was King Ahab who wanted his neighbor’s vineyard. He was the king and already had so much, but when Naboth politely refused to part with his inherited land, Ahab did this!
The Kings Behavior
The king behaved like a spoiled child, refusing to get out of bed or eat. His lack of contentment affected not only him but also his wife, Jezebel. Often, we can forget how our behavior or even discontentment can affect others, especially our spouses. Over time, the constant display of discontentment can cause an emotional burden on others who feel helpless and unable to alleviate your dissatisfaction. Persistent dissatisfaction will impact everyone’s mood, generating strain in the relationship and causing emotional distancing. Your spouse/friends/family may begin withdrawing from you to protect themselves emotionally from feeling responsible for your discontentment. However, in the case of severe discontentment in 1 Kings 21 with Ahab, the significant influence on his wife, Jezebel, was displayed in her decision-making.
Jezebel’s Plot
Jezebel plotted and accomplished Naboth’s murder all because her husband was unhappy with not being able to have Naboth’s vineyard. After hearing the news of Naboth’s death, King Ahab went to possess the vineyard. This is when the Lord speaks through the prophet Elijah and pronounces the Lord’s displeasure and judgment upon him. One of the things Elijah told King Ahab was that “…‘I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the Lord” (1 Kings 21:20). The king having given himself over or having “sold” himself to the evil of discontentment caused a lot of harm. He sinned, his wife sinned, others sinned by helping in the conspiracy, and Naboth was killed.
This is an extreme case of the possible outcomes of discontentment. Some matters in our lives should cause discontentment, but truthfully, selling ourselves over to dissatisfaction is generally not worth the trouble it causes. Instead of saying, “I will be happy when…” Be happy now.
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