Gotta Rich Uncle?

Don't we all harbor a secret desire that we'd have an unexpected rich uncle pop up and leave us an inheritance of epic proportions?

I don't have a rich uncle ( though I do have an Uncle Rich by marriage), or at least if I do, he hasn't shown up yet. But I have received several inheritances.

There was the tea pot brooch from Aunt Elsie. Aunt Elsie was not really my aunt, but I loved and admired that woman so much, I named my daughter after her. The first couple years we were married, I used to walk to the rest home where she lived to visit every Thursday afternoon. We would talk. She would talk. She would tell me tales of her 70 years of marriage, and of being an immigrant from Scotland while a child, and so many other wise things.

did I mention this plays "I'm a Little Teapot?" Rather poignant.

Then there was the china, lamps, washer and dryer from my granny. Very practical, people. I use them almost every day. Well, not the china, but you know what I mean.

And then there was the ceramic casserole dish from my great grandma. I really don't know why I love this, but I do. It screams 70s with its retro brown hues. I think it is precious to me because she was precious to me. I use this casserole on a weekly basis. And I always smile and remember my great grandma. I remember watching Oprah with her, and going shopping at the mall. I remember helping her clear out the trailer she had lived in for around 30 years. I loved her, and so I love this memory of her.

My favorite casserole dish. I certainly think it prettier now than I did at first.

Far more costly, but much less precious is a set of genuine silverware set that my grandma gave me. I also love my grandma a lot. And I have great memories of her. But, this is not her silverware. It was someone else's in the family. Someone I don't think I ever met. And, though worth a lot monetarily, it doesn't tug at my heart strings. And, frankly, I haven't used it either. It sits in my basement, in its beautiful box, unused.

you know, it is kind of beautiful. I may just have to give it a whirl one of these days...

(Which isn't to say I won't use it someday. And I certainly won't hock it. Well, unless we are destitute and its the difference between eating or storing silver.)

Hmmm...I can't say this doesn't remind me of a certain Bible story I read again recently. The story of Esau selling his birthright, his inheritance, for a bowl of bean stew. (okay, forget that I mentioned anything about hocking my silver for food.)

Esau didn't value his inheritance. It had no attachment to him. He didn't want it. As a matter of fact, Genesis 25 says that Esau despised his birthright.

Jacob wanted Esau's inheritance. He saw the value of the promises of God.

So, you already know how I treat my physical inheritances. You know the ones I value and the ones I don't. It is pretty easy to see the correlation of the value I place on my different inheritances with the value I placed on my relationship with the giver of the inheritance.

You know we have to follow this thread further...

My relationship with God is my most important treasure. It is my most valuable relationship. He is my first priority.

So, how do I value the inheritance God has given me? An inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fades not away. Reserved in heaven for me. It won't rust or tarnish. It won't be depleted. It is waiting for me.

-The inheritance of His Son's perfect life, and death on the cross to pay the price for my sins? Do I value that enough to present my body a live sacrifice to God?

-The inheritance of a relationship with God. Daily and tangible. Do I make investing in our relationship by reading His Words to me in the Bible, and by talking to Him, the first thing of my day? The most important event of my day?

-The inheritance of the Holy Spirit's presence within me. To seal, guide, and teach. Do I avail myself of that?

-The inheritance of being holy and blameless before Him in love. Predestined to be adopted as a son (daughter) of God. Redemption through His precious blood. Forgiveness. Knowledge of God's will. Living for the praise of His glory. According to Ephesians 1, these are all portions of my inheritance from God.

-The inheritance of eternal life. Forever.in heaven.with Jesus Christ. No sickness, sadness or death. Surrounded by all things beautiful. The light of God's presence. That's what's waiting for me.

Am I living like I'm rich? Am I using my inheritance? With a heart over flowing in gratefulness, contentment and love? Or is my inheritance gathering dust like my silverware?

the silver was underneath this table, behind all this junk. Which is probably one reason why I never use it.
Let's get it out, and show it off!

How are you treating your spiritual inheritance? Like the unused silver or the well used casserole?