Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment. Ecclesiastes 11:9
The incident took place in Jezreel, just east of modern Tel Aviv, in a fertile valley lying midway between the blue Mediterranean and the arid desert across the Jordan. A certain farmer had inherited a vineyard from his father, who, in turn, had received title to the property from his father. Everyone admired the luscious grapes which came from the toil of the well-respected middle-classed man who kept the vineyard. Naboth, the owner, was proud of his work. Offers to purchase the property had been turned down without a second thought, even one that came from the wealthiest, most powerful man in the country.
You see, Naboth’s fine vineyard was only a short distance from a parcel of ground which was owned by Ahab, the king of Israel, so no one was surprised when one day, Ahab approached Naboth and offered: “Let me have your vineyard to use for a vegetable garden, since it’s close to my palace. In exchange I will give you a better vineyard or, if you prefer, I will pay you whatever it’s worth” (1 Kings 21:2).
Now, most people would be willing to make an exchange, especially if enough money is involved. Not Naboth. “No way!” he said, explaining that more than money was involved. This parcel was part of the inheritance that had been in the family for hundreds of years. All the gold in Samaria wouldn’t tempt him.
When Ahab was angry and sullen over the rebuff, his wife, one of the most ruthless, cunning women alive, said, in effect, “Hey, I’ll take care of it for you!” She did, too, by plotting the murder of Naboth so his land could be confiscated and appropriated by the king.
There is an eternal law that you reap what you sow, and eventually the violence from which Ahab profited returned to haunt him. He lost his life as an archer randomly drew his bow and fired an arrow into a mob of people. Ahab, disguised as an ordinary soldier, was the victim, as the arrow found its mark between sections of the king’s armor.
Nearly 700 years before Ahab’s grand theft and murder, God said, “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor” (Exodus 20:17). No exclusions were made—neither for the wealthy, or for kings, or senators, or presidents. The laws of God apply equally to all people everywhere.
Though the pages of our history books grow thicker with the passing of time, the steps that we take to appropriate what we covet, but really have no right to possess, are much the same.
Today what happened to Naboth is still happening. Covetousness turns to lust; lust to murder. Today, we may not destroy someone physically, yet some will destroy a competitor in business financially. “If it works, do it!” is the motto of the world, yet God says, “Follow the way of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment” (Ecclesiastes 11:9).
Whether or not you can get away with taking something you want—yes, what you covet—whether it is your neighbor’s vineyard or his wife, or his employees, or the company’s stock—isn’t the issue. It is a fundamental matter of right and wrong. There is still an eternal law that says, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man [sows], that shall he also reap” (Galatians 6:7 KJV). May I remind you of what the writer of Ecclesiastes said? “Follow the ways of your heart, and whatever your eyes see, but know [thou] that for all these things, God will bring you [to] judgement” (Ecclesiastes 11:9).
Resource reading: 1 Kings 21:1-29
