SEARCHLIGHT
What do you value in life?
SCRIPTURE
Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” [That is why he was also called Edom.] Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.” “Look, I’m about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?” But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright. Genesis 25:29-34 NIV
SPOTLIGHT
Take the following survey. Arrange in order of importance the following guiding principles. Place a “1” next to the value which is most important to you. Then place a “2” next to the value which is second. Complete the list until all are numbered:
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___ A comfortable life [no financial worries] |
___ Accomplishment [life contribution] |
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___ Equality [respect and opportunity for all] |
___ Self-respect [personal esteem] |
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___ Family well-being [loved ones secure] |
___ Friendship [close companionship] |
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___ Freedom [independence, free choice] |
___ Wisdom [understanding life] |
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___ Salvation [forgiveness of sin, eternal life] |
___ Peaceful world [no war and conflict] |
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___ National security [protection] |
___ Beautiful world [healthy environment] |
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___ Pleasure [enjoying life as I see fit] |
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In the above Scripture focus, you meet Isaac’s first son, Esau, who bargained with his brother Jacob for food. If Esau had taken the above survey, his #1 choice would have been “Pleasure [enjoying life as I see fit].” He sold his birthright [inheritance] for a bowl of stew. There was no shortage of food. Had he looked, he could have found something else to eat.
When you sell your birthright, you exchange something of great importance and value for something that has little or no value. At first sight, it appears to be attractive and valuable.
If you sell your spiritual birthright, you are giving up the divine inheritance that God wants you to receive. God loves you so much He has provided for you salvation through His Son Jesus so that you can inherit forgiveness of sin, eternal life, abundant life here on earth, and fellowship with God, your Heavenly Father. Would you give all this up to experience a short, momentary pleasure?
Richard Cary and Quentin McGhee wrote “A Jewish legend says that Jacob and Esau, as twins, talked to each other in the womb. Jacob said, “My brother, there are two worlds before us: this world, and the one to come. In this world, men seek all the fun they can find. But this does not happen in the world to come. If you take this world, I will take the other. And Esau chose to take this world because he did not believe there was any other world.” [Faith in Action, P150]
Is the present or the future more valuable to you? Are the pleasures of today or the blessings of tomorrow more important to you? Is your time on earth or your eternal time in heaven more valuable? Note 4 mistakes Esau made:
- He lived for the moment…he was hungry and demanding…he believed in getting satisfaction NOW
- He did not objectively think…he made an emotionally based decision…he did not consider the cost he would have to pay for his lunch
- He confused need with want…he believed what he wanted he really needed...his physical desire drove him rather than what was best for him
- He exaggerated his desire…he told Jacob he was going to die if he did not get some stew…
Do you value your sensual appetite more than your spiritual appetite? Do you put yourself first or do you put God first? Do you value your earthly privileges more than your heavenly privileges? Are you drawn to momentary reward or eternal reward? James 1;14,15 states “Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
You are free to choose but you are not free from the consequences. It is your choice as to what you value but you are not free from the outcome. You must take responsibility for your choices. The writer of Hebrews commented about Esau’s decision: “See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done. [Hebrews 12:16,17]
Value your God-given inheritance!
SOMETHING TO DO
Find a quiet spot to consider what you truly value in life.
SOUL TIME PRAYER
Heavenly Father, my relationship with You is the most important factor of my life. Through your Son, Jesus, I have discovered a new way of living. It is not all about me. I choose to live to honor You and fulfill your purposes and plans for my life. Thank you for blessing me with a spiritual inheritance that exceeds any earthly value. AMEN