My Portion
by Jilly Lyon-Taylor
When our children were growing up and I was sharing out portions of their favourite food, I can remember occasions when the cry would ring out: “Mum, he’s got more than me!” I wonder how many of us have felt the same regarding the portion assigned to us in life.
In today’s verses David makes clear that it is the Lord who assigns to each of us our portion. Does this mean that God is unfair; that He has favourites to whom He will assign a better inheritance than to others? No! The Bible is very clear that God is entirely fair and that ‘all his ways are just’ (Deuteronomy 32:4). Romans 2:11 tells us that ‘God does not show favouritism’.
However, we can be prone to grumbling and comparing our lot to others. We can think, “If only I had – a better family situation, a home, more money, a husband/wife, a better church …” But we are looking at the wrong things if we think that any of these are what will satisfy us.
The inheritance that God gives us does not consist of worldly wealth or possessions, but in the eternal riches that every believer has in Christ, and it is the same for all. When we believe, we are adopted into God’s family and we become not only His children but also ‘heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ’ (Romans 8:17), with an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade (1 Peter 1:4). In fact our inheritance is the Lord Himself – He is our Portion! David declares this in Psalm 119:57: ‘You are my portion, O LORD’.
It is therefore true for all of us that we have been assigned a portion and a cup that is overflowing with blessings. It contains everything we need, but instead of seeing this and focusing on it, many of us see our cup as half empty. We focus on the perceived lack rather than on the fullness that we have in Jesus Christ. Let’s try and change our focus today and thank Him for the portion and overflowing cup that has been assigned to us!
Prayer: Lord, please forgive me for grumbling and complaining about my perceived lack. Thank You that in You I have everything I need, now and for eternity. Amen.
Jilly Lyon-Taylor is part of the Leadership Team at Ellel Pierrepont. She worked in publishing and then with children in Hong Kong before concentrating on being a full-time mother and serving in the local church. Her desire to see people healed led her to the Luke Nine Eleven Training Scheme(NETS) at Pierrepont, and now she teaches and ministers there.
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