DAY 30: A Bowl of Soup . . . and More

“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 25:34)

Isn’t it amazing what we give up in order to satisfy our appetites?

Something looks good to us. We have to have it, whether it’s a piece of cake, or the corner office, or the tricked out car, or the good-looking person across the street. And we trade what we say we value most for things that don’t last.

That’s what Esau did. He was firstborn. He had the birthright and all that went with it. He was the one who would get double the inheritance. He was the one who would become the patriarch. He was the one who would receive the prestige and honor of being head of the family.

But he was hungry. So hungry he said he’d give anything for something to eat.  

Enter Jacob, with a bowl of soup. “Anything?” asked Jacob. “Anything!” said Esau. And the deal was struck.  Esau gobbled the meal up, smacked his lips, his stomach was full and he was feeling satisfied . . . for a couple hours, that is. All at the expense of his birthright.  

Are there things in your life you’re trading for a bowl of soup? Your reputation? Your family? Your character?

Your birthright is as the child of God. Yours is the Kingdom! Yours is eternity. Yours is love. Yours is now.

All of which is immeasurably more than a bowl of soup.

One of the benefits of a renewed vision focus and a capital campaign is to reestablish ministry priorities. It’s too easy to “sell ourselves out” for so many other things that demand our time and attention in ministry. However, the mission of your church’s mission is your “birthright.” Don’t sell it out.