“Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart fail: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever.” (Psalm 73:25-26)
What did the psalmist mean when he declared God as his portion in Psalm 73? The term “portion” evokes the idea of an inheritance, as seen in Genesis 31:14, 1 Kings 12:16, and 2 Chronicles 10:16, where it signifies a share of wealth or land passed down to heirs. Here, the psalmist employs it metaphorically, pointing to God Himself as the ultimate inheritance of the believer. To grasp the depth of this claim, we must consider its nature, extent, significance, and usefulness, each revealing why God is the believer’s supreme treasure, surpassing all earthly possessions and enduring forever.
By nature, an inheritance provides security and provision for the future. In human terms, it ensures maintenance and offers stability and hope to the recipient. If an earthly inheritance is considered a great gift, how much greater is the gift of God Himself? He is the source of all provision, not merely for temporal needs but for eternal life. As the psalmist reflects, no one in heaven or on earth compares to God, who satisfies every longing of the soul. To call God my portion is to recognize that in Him I lack nothing; His presence is my ultimate good, now and forever.
The extent of this inheritance is as boundless as God’s own riches. As the Maker and Sustainer of all creation, He owns everything, from the vast galaxies to the smallest insect. Psalm 50:10-11 declares, “For every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the insects in the fields are mine.”
More importantly, His wealth extends beyond the physical to the spiritual. Jesus promised in John 14:2, “In my Father’s house are many mansions … and I go to prepare a place for you.” Paul echoes this in 1 Corinthians 2:9, stating, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has it entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love him.”
Thomas De Laune wrote, “The gift of portion and inheritance is bestowed on purpose to fix the subject to whom it is given in a future settlement of happiness and prosperity. Such a portion or inheritance frees one from that contempt others are exposed to that have none; they that have no portion are accounted poor and beggarly people.” How much more does our spiritual portion in Christ deliver us from eternal poverty? Romans 8:38-39 assures us, “I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord!” This portion grants unshakable security, freeing us from fear and empowering us to live with confidence, knowing that God’s love and provision are ours forever.[1]
To declare God as my portion is to embrace a reality that transcends earthly measures. While others chase wealth, status, or fleeting pleasures, the believer finds in God an inheritance that never fades. This truth reshapes our priorities, calling us to seek Him above all else. It strengthens us when our flesh and heart fail, for God Himself is the strength of our heart, sustaining us through life’s trials and securing our eternal home. As redeemed children, we live in the light of this inheritance, resting in the assurance that nothing can separate us from our Portion forever.
Contemplations:
- Desiring God alone. I observe Lord that in the courts of kings and princes and the stately rooms of presidents and such, people are often taken with the opulence of their estates and palaces. They fill their imaginations with the desire for such rich and fine things. But the spiritually minded man whose eye, desire, and ways are turned toward God looks past all earthly wealth to the inheritance he has with God. Teach me, Lord, to desire none but You. When the world tempts me with its treasures, let my heart remain fixed on You, my true Portion, whose value surpasses all creation.
- Relying on Your strength. Lord, I acknowledge my own weaknesses (Rom. 5:6; 2 Cor. 3:5). And yet I know that I am chosen and called to perform that duty which You require of me as Your child. I also know that I cannot come of myself to any duty; I can only offer Your Son, Jesus Christ, and His works on my behalf. In doing so, I both expect and look for Your all-sufficiency of strength to bless me, for You are the fountain of power, and my portion forever. Help me trust in Your provision, leaning on Your strength to fulfill Your calling in my life.
- Resting in Your sufficiency. A Portion Lord thou didst design / On thine for to bestow; / Naught didst thou think was good enough / For them of things below. / Nor things in Heaven, which excel, / And therefore dost impart, / Thy self as the Portion for me alone / Of all upright in heart. These words stir my soul to rest in Your sufficiency. You gave Yourself as my inheritance. Let this truth anchor me, freeing me from chasing lesser things and filling me with gratitude for Your boundless gift.
- Living as Your heir. As Your adopted child, Lord, I am heir to an inheritance that never fades. This reality shapes how I live, calling me to walk worthy of Your calling. Help me live with the confidence of one who possesses You as my Portion, unafraid of loss or lack. May my life reflect the joy and security of this inheritance, drawing others to seek You, the only One who satisfies forever. Teach me to treasure You above all, living each day in the light of eternity.
Prayer (Thanksgiving)
Almighty God, You are the fountain of all goodness, the Creator whose riches span the heavens and earth, yet who gives Himself as the greatest gift. Your love surpasses all understanding, and Your faithfulness endures forever. I stand in awe that You, the Maker of all, have declared Yourself my Portion, an inheritance beyond imagination. Your generosity humbles me, for You withhold nothing from those You call Your own, sharing the fullness of Your divine nature through Your Son.
I confess my failures to value You as my supreme treasure. Too often, my heart has chased earthly riches, envying the fleeting wealth of this world. I have doubted Your sufficiency, seeking security in things that fade. My weakness has led me to rely on my own strength, forgetting that You alone are my strength and Portion. Forgive me for these sins, for diminishing the glory of Your gift. Cleanse me through the blood of Christ, restoring my vision to see You as my all in all, and renew my heart to desire You alone.
With deep gratitude, I thank You for making Yourself my Portion forever. Thank You for the promise of Psalm 73, where You assure me that nothing in heaven or earth compares to You. Your ownership of all creation—from the cattle on a thousand hills to the stars above—reminds me of the vastness of my inheritance. Yet even more, I thank You for giving Your Son, through whom I am adopted into Your family and promised a place in Your eternal kingdom. Your love, displayed in John 3:16, overwhelms me, for You gave Your only Son to secure my place with You.
Thank You for the mansions prepared for me, the glories no eye has seen, as Paul and John describe. I am grateful that Your goodwill ensures my future, freeing me from fear and contempt, for as Romans 8 declares nothing can separate me from Your love in Christ. Your provision meets every need, Your strength upholds my failing heart, and Your presence satisfies my deepest longings. Thank You for calling me Your child, granting me access to Your infinite riches, and anchoring my hope in an inheritance that never perishes.
Lord, I plead for grace to live as one who possesses You as my Portion. Help me turn from worldly desires, fixing my heart on You alone. Strengthen me to rely on Your power, trusting Christ’s sufficiency for every duty. Fill me with Your Spirit, that I may walk worthy of my calling, reflecting Your love to others. And use me to point others to You, the only true treasure.
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Further Scripture References for Psalm 73:25-26:
Psalm 17:15, 37:4; Isa. 26:9; Phil. 3:8.
[1] Thomas De Laune, Tropologia, (London: John Richardson and John Darby for Enoch Prosser, 1681), 7.
