Inheritance or Entitlement?

How does the Kingdom work? By inheritance or entitlement?

Inheritance is Hebrew is nachalah which means possession, property, inheritance, heritage. It is also translated as heritage in Scripture. Another Hebrew word for inheritance is nachal which means to get as a possession, acquire, inherit, possess. Greek for inheritance is klēronomia which means an inheritance, property received (or to be received) by inheritance and what is given to one as a possession. Inheritance in Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines it as money, property, etc., that is received from someone when that person dies, something from the past that is still important or valuable, and/or the act of inheriting something.

Entitlements in Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary is defined as the condition of having a right to have, do, or get something and/or the feeling or belief that you deserve to be given something (such as special privileges). Entitled means believing oneself to be inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment. As far as I’ve searched I cannot find the word entitled or entitlement(s) in Scripture.

How many of us, including myself, feel entitled to so many things in our walk with the Lord? I have. I do. But are we…entitled? In my opinion, entitlement is seeking inheritance apart from and before maturity. Seeking what is given to you and acting like it is owed to you. Perfect illustration is in Luke 15:11-32 which is the story of “prodigal son.” One could argue that the father was the prodigal but that’s up to your viewpoint. I would post the whole passage but we all know it. The son asks for his inheritance prior to becoming mature enough to handle it. He felt entitled to it and, as we can see, the father obliged and handed it over. Asking for your inheritance before maturity is an entitled mindset. Galatians 4:1-2 says

Now what I mean is that as long as the inheritor (heir) is a child and under age, he does not differ from a servant, although he is the master of all the estate; But he is under guardians and administrators or trustees until the date fixed by his father.

Here it says an heir or inheritor, present state of being, does not differ from a servant but is under those designed to mature the heir until the date fixed. Date fixed in Greek is prothesmia which means set beforehand, appointed or determined beforehand, prearranged.

This is no way conflicts with 2 Corinthians 1:20 in my opinion. All of the promises of God are “Yes” and “Amen” in Christ who we are joined with. Heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ. I was thinking about what would happen if we lived in full authority and inheritance without the fruit necessary for its foundation. Would I end up squandering it with my own will? Would I declare things that shouldn’t be declared? Would I command mountains to be cast into the sea when that mountain should stay put? Can we be trusted with our full inheritance before our set time? Will we demand it with a servant/slave entitlement mindset? Or will we be patient? He sure is patient due to Him not be slack considering His promises.

Proverbs 17:6 says

Children’s children are the crown of old men, and the glory of children is their fathers.

God is a God of generations. He works through others and through generations. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God of generations and a God of inheritance. If you don’t believe then throw out 1st Chron. and 2nd Chron. as well as Luke 3:23-38 and Matt. 1:1-17. I mean one of Jesus’ names is Son of David. Son of. Who are you a son of? That will tell you your inheritance or debt. Yes we are sons of God. Mercy and grace are blasting into our lives but there is a process.

Hebrews 7:7-10 says

 But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater. In this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives on. And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes, for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.

Here we see actions done by others are passed on to those who didn’t do anything. Look at Adam and Eve. They sinned and it passed on to us. Christ died and rose from the dead and now many are made alive. This was done 2000 years ago and is passed on to those that believe.

Some of us have inherited a positive inheritance and some a negative inheritance which I like to call debt. Most of us are a mixed bag. We have inheritance and debt. Not that we are indebted but we have to make up for what was either lost or not provided. For those who notice a debt then I would suggest reading Generational Deliverance to get a clean slate as it were.

1 Peter 3:9-12 says

Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. For,

“Whoever would love life
    and see good days
must keep their tongue from evil
    and their lips from deceitful speech.
They must turn from evil and do good;
    they must seek peace and pursue it.
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
    and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

So that you may inherit a blessing. So there is a way to inherit a blessing. There is also a way to create an inheritance of blessing. If you have debt, get delivered and cancel out that garbage. Get that clean slate and press forward. Sow. Water. God will give the increase. Proverbs 13:22a declares

A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children…

Inheritance. Generations. Children’s children. Three generations listed here which basically says leave something your grandkids can use and not something they need to break off. Sow into generations future. Believe you me this is spiritual and physical. Occupy till He comes. Heaven isn’t our eternal home. This earth will still be around for a millennia after Jesus comes back physically. What if we have to restore in the millennium what we blatantly destroyed prior? What if we can leave something for ourselves in the future? Lets give our kids and grandkids a break. Give them something to fight from instead of something to fight for. Lets get rid of our debt and create a surplus. Lets be patient in the waiting of our reaping. Wait for your appointed time when your inheritance will be opened up to you. Get out of entitlement. Get into patience and maturity. Grow. Get pruned. Do not despise when God works on you because it proves your sonship…it proves you do have an inheritance.