The LORD is the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You support my lot. (Psalm 16:5)

When people die, the possessions they leave behind are claimed by their children, near relatives, or those otherwise named, in legal terms, “heirs.” What is left behind is called the “inheritance,” and it is distributed to the heirs according to the so-called last will and testimony. Everyone related to the deceased person is of course interested in how much was left to him or her. That’s the first question. The second is whether they will get their fair share. In other words, how does their portion compare to what other heirs are designated to receive?

We all want what is due to us. We feel we have a right to it; it is ours. But in this fallen world, where we all are infected by sin and self-centeredness (though in varying degrees), none of us can objectively determine what is fair for ourselves, let alone everyone else.

The Lord made this clear when Job felt entitled to an explanation for his suffering. God rebuked him with a review of creation, ending with this biting retort: “Who has given to Me that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is Mine” (Job 41:11). We own nothing; we are entitled to nothing. God does not owe answers to any of His creation.

With a legal will, the stuff contested did not belong to us but to the deceased person. He owned it and alone is entitled to disperse it without any obligations. This is not to say we cannot use legal means to gain what is lawfully assigned to us in a will. However, we must remember we are not entitled to anything. If we were entitled, then the thing would not be in the will—it would be represented by some other legal arrangement. But with God there is no arrangement by which we can claim entitlement. He owns everything; He defines the rules. He is under no obligation to us.

However, we do have our portion of an inheritance, one which is far greater than any earthly inheritance of money or property. Our portion is the Lord Himself—not what the He possesses, although that is a side benefit. Through faith we can say He is ours. And there certainly is enough of Him to go around. Far more than we deserve, or could even ask for. We possess Him in a way that far surpasses owning any earthly thing. That is what David meant when he cried out from the bowels of a cave, when he had very little, hiding from his assailant: “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living” (Ps. 142:5).

Lord, I am immensely rich, for I already have my portion, which is You!