Did not heed to people pointing out his sins.
King David sinned when he had an affair with Bathsheba but he was willing to repent when the prophet of God, Nathan, confronted him with his sin. King Ahab refused to heed Elijah’s call to repent. He saw Elijah as his enemy rather than God’s messenger.
1 Kings 18:17 When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is it you, you troubler of Israel?” 18 He answered, “I have not troubled Israel; but you have, and your father’s house, because you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord and followed the Baals.
We should take the words of men of God seriously. In the olden days, these are the prophets of God but in modern days these may be our church pastors, Christian leaders or simply mature Christians. The Bible tells us that we should heed the advice of wise counsel and only fools would reject correction.
Prov 12:15 Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to advice.
Think of people whose corrective instructions you have not heeded recently. Why have you not heeded? Is it due to pride? Putting pride aside, consider the content of the advice. Not all of it may be good but are there some good things that you can draw and learn from?
Allowed his evil wife to influence him.
1 Kings 16:31 And as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, he took as his wife Jezebel daughter of King Ethbaal of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshiped him. 32 He erected an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he built in Samaria. 33 Ahab also made a sacred pole. Ahab did more to provoke the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, than had all the kings of Israel who were before him.
The choice of a mate will have s significant impact on one’s life. Ahab took for himself a pagan wife who encouraged him to worship Baal. It is important when we choose our spouse or close associates. The Bible has warned against being unequally yoked.
2 Cor 6:14 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship is there between light and darkness? 15 What agreement does Christ have with Beliar? Or what does a believer share with an unbeliever?
If we are constantly in contact with ideologies or thoughts which are wrong, these wrong thoughts will slowly sip their way into our life. Are we unqually yoked? Do we choose only Christians to be our spouse or close business partners?
That does not mean that we stop associating with anyone who is not a Christian. Jesus did not even do that. But we should be careful choosing the group of people in our inner circle who will have significant influence on our lives.
Childish man who brooded for days if he cannot get his own way.
Ahab brooded over not being able to get a piece of land, so his wife had its owner, Naboth, killed.
1 Kings 21: 1 Later the following events took place: Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel, beside the palace of King Ahab of Samaria. 2 And Ahab said to Naboth, “Give me your vineyard, so that I may have it for a vegetable garden, because it is near my house; I will give you a better vineyard for it; or, if it seems good to you, I will give you its value in money.” 3 But Naboth said to Ahab, “The Lord forbid that I should give you my ancestral inheritance.” 4 Ahab went home resentful and sullen because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had said to him; for he had said, “I will not give you my ancestral inheritance.” He lay down on his bed, turned away his face, and would not eat.
Do we become depressed when we do not have one thing? Instead of looking at that one thing we do not have, why not look at the things we do have. When we are tempted to brood because we cannot have our own way, God may be trying to teach us contentment with what we already have.
Our God does not withhold good things from His children. If are not able to get something perhaps it is because that thing is not good for us.
Matthew 7:9 Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? 10 Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him.
Selfish and looked only towards his own wants.
1 Kings 21 9 She wrote in the letters, “Proclaim a fast, and seat Naboth at the head of the assembly; 10 seat two scoundrels opposite him, and have them bring a charge against him, saying, ‘You have cursed God and the king.’ Then take him out, and stone him to death.” 11 The men of his city, the elders and the nobles who lived in his city, did as Jezebel had sent word to them. ….15 As soon as Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, Jezebel said to Ahab, “Go, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give you for money; for Naboth is not alive, but dead.” 16 As soon as Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab set out to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.
Ahab showed no regard for the welfare of others. He was only interested in getting what he wants. We may not be as vicious as him in getting what we want but are we guilty of the same sin in smaller measures? When we want to accomplish something, do we do it at the expense of others? How are we getting that promotion that we want? Do we wish that others in our company perform poorly so that our performance look good relative to theirs?