Gen.
25 tells the story of Jacob and Esau and how Esau sold his birthright for a bowl
of soup. As the firstborn, Esau
was entitled to a double portion of his father's possessions. But Esau was tired, worn out and famished. The immediate pleasure of
life was all that mattered to him. He reacted on impulse without a second
thought of how it would affect his future. Esau
preferred the gratification of his physical appetite to spiritual blessings so he sold his priceless
birthright for a bowl of soup. Esau
showed that he valued his life far above his inheritance. As believers our spiritual birthright is our right to
inherit the kingdom of God.
God has “blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms
because we are united with Christ.” Ephesians 1:3
We
are his adopted sons and daughters (Eph. 1:5).
He has showered his
kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding (Eph. 1:8). We have been “sealed
with the promised Holy Spirit” (Eph. 1:13). As a believer in Christ that is
your birthright.
People usually only sell
something when they value something else more.
"For where your treasure
is, there your heart will be also."
Matthew 6:21
Esau did not place a high-enough value on the birthright, so he sold it for nothing.
God warns us in Hebrews 12:16 not to be like Esau and
sell our birthright as cheaply as Esau sold his birthright. Our birthright is valuable. We must think beyond
the pleasures of the moment. We must
give up any sinful habits that have crept into our lives. If we do not
value our birthright more than anything in this world, than we will find
ourselves selling it for our own equivalent of a bowl of soup.
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