How much would you pay for the best bowl of soup in the world? For the best bowl of soup in the world, I might go up to $100, but if it’s more than that, I’ll have to pass. What about for an average bowl of soup? How much would you pay for that? Not very much. Probably just a few dollars. Well, one time a guy bought an average bowl of stew using his birthright.
“Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted. And Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!” (Therefore his name was called Edom.) Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright now.” Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” Jacob said, “Swear to me now.” So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lintel stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.” Gen 25:29-34
Now, we may not fully appreciate the value of a birthright like they did back then, but this was a very valuable thing. The birthright went to the first born and entitled him to a double portion of the inheritance and typically gave him the authority that his father had. Esau gave up a large inheritance because he was hungry. What a foolish thing to do! Who would ever sell their inheritance because of some fleeting craving?!
Well, actually, we sort of do that.
We have an inheritance. “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs – heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” Rom 8:16-17
And instead of suffering with Christ to gain our inheritance, we trade it earthly cravings. “For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.” Phil 3:18-19
When we set our minds on earthly things, we are like Esau giving up his inheritance because his stomach was growling and the soup smelled good. At times, we also have stomachs growling for money, possessions, pleasures, status, etc. and those things look so good. But our inheritance is worth so much more than the fleeting things of this world.
Today, may you hold tightly to your inheritance and not trade it for anything in the world!