Genesis 25:34

New King James Version (NKJV)

And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus, Esau despised his birthright.

For Meditation

Richard Quest has an interesting commercial that spotlights the value of pennies. A woman drops a penny while rummaging through her handbag. Richard picks it up and attempts to give it back to her.

“Oh, it’s just a penny,” she says.

“Just a penny?”  Richard looks at her and smiles.  Throwing the penny into a bank vault, he makes his point: “It’s not how much you have, but what you do with what you have.”

Now, that sounds like the story of Esau with his brother Jacob to me. Esau trifled with his birthright as the firstborn of Isaac and exchanged it for bread and stew to satisfy a momentary craving (Gen. 25:30-31). What is more shocking to me is Esau’s nonchalant attitude after the meal.

“He ate and drank, and then got up and left.” (v.34 NIV).

Just like that! Without a thought for the future blessings his birthright offered, Esau walked away. The Hebrews writer characterizes him as godless (Heb. 12:16). Without faith, he lost the blessing of the birthright, which he later “sought with tears, but he could not change what he had done” (17).

Christians offend God when they act like Esau about spiritual things. In Revelation 3:15-16, Jesus describes the spiritual condition of the church of Laodicea as “Neither cold nor hot.” Because of their lukewarm condition, the Lord said he was about to spit them out of His mouth. They claimed they were rich, while they were “wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked” (17). That’s the situation of the church today.

I am not talking about a lack of effort here. The church is not deficient in strategic plans and excellently executed programs. It’s not short of well-meaning members working in the ministry; even though it could use more volunteers. The church is not lacking in numbers and physical resources to show for its work. It has stadium-size temples and high-tech gadgets and presentations to amaze anyone. No! The church has all these and much more.

The problem of the church is that it has become too careless where it matters most – eternal things (Col. 3:1-3). It has become complacent and careless about spiritual matters. There is a lack of spiritual fortitude, which defines Christian character (Rom. 5:3-4).

Character reveals the core nature of the believer and sets them apart or distinguishes them from the world. Christian character is forged on the crucible of faith, and only spiritual fortitude – strength, courage, resilience – can produce it.

This message is not a critique of the church. It is a call to serious duty in our faith. It calls the believer to seriously consider the treasure they have in Christ Jesus. As God is fearfully jealous for the children of His kingdom and absolutely protects them, so should the children be jealous for Christ.

1. So, how serious are you about your faith?
2. What is your attitude towards eternal things?
3. Are you living for the here and now, while Christ has prepared the best treasure for you in heaven?
4. Do you bargain your spiritual blessings in Christ for the temporary pleasures of this world?
5. Have you allowed survival and external appearances to overshadow righteousness and integrity in your life?

I pray you can exercise self-control and self-denial when the flesh calls for satisfaction, and the world flashes its glitter in your face.

May you stand and not fall when tempted; but may you cherish what you have in Christ and jealously protect it.

Shalom