For anything you can get your hands on to enjoy in this life?
A couple years ago, this prompt came to me and it makes me wonder what exactly was going through my mind at the time. Nevertheless, the question is, “Who, knowing there is an eternity to live beyond death, would sacrifice that eternity for what is desirable now?”
Photo by Alesia Kozik on Pexels.com
I’m afraid there are lots of people who fall into this category. The first Biblical character I think of is Esau. He traded his birthright for a bowl of lentil soup. Let’s take a look:
27 And the boys grew up; Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the field, but Jacob was a peaceful man, living in tents. 28 Isaac loved Esau because he had an appetite for hunted game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.
29 And Jacob had cooked stew. And Esau came in from the field, and he was famished. 30 Then Esau said to Jacob, “Please give me a swallow from the red stuff—this red stuff, for I am famished.” Therefore his name was called Edom. 31 But Jacob said, “First sell me your birthright.” 32 And Esau said, “Behold, I am about to die; so of what use then is the birthright to me?” 33 And Jacob said, “First swear to me”; so he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 So Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew; and he ate and drank and rose and went away. Thus Esau despised his birthright. – Genesis 25:27-34
I see contributing factors for Esau to despise his birthright. In modern psychological parlance, we see a child who was not favored and therefore, did not receive the care and attention he may have otherwise received. Taking a firm stance on that “what if” we may begin to spend a lifetime blaming others and resorting to self-pity, never understanding or accepting that we ought to take responsibility for the effects of circumstances that at one point was out of our control.
In short, we can adopt a self-centered perspective if we are ignorant or rebellious to a higher authority, in the Biblical case, the ultimate authority.
On the other hand, Jacob is no sinless wonder either. Someone who gets all the attention adopts other sinful attitudes of self-centeredness and pride which can be just as difficult to overcome in the surrender to the ultimate authority, which is God.
“Higher power” is for those who haven’t got clear who Jesus Christ is yet, but want to either be inclusive (which inversely avoids giving Christ the Glory for fear of being exclusive, which by definition is God’s message of salvation by Grace alone) or just know that there IS a God and He is not you or me.
12…“The older shall serve the younger.” 13 Just as it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” – Romans 9:12-13
Did Esau not prosper after he left his father’s land? Did he maybe even have a more exciting and leisurely road to power and dominion over the territories he came to settle in?
2 Esau took his wives from the daughters of Canaan: Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Oholibamah the daughter of Anah and the granddaughter of Zibeon the Hivite; 3 also Basemath, Ishmael’s daughter, the sister of Nebaioth.4 And Adah bore Eliphaz to Esau, and Basemath bore Reuel, 5 and Oholibamah bore Jeush and Jalam and Korah. These are the sons of Esau who were born to him in the land of Canaan.
6 Then Esau took his wives and his sons and his daughters and all [a]his household, and his livestock and all his cattle and all his acquired goods, which he had accumulated in the land of Canaan, and he went to a land away from his brother Jacob. 7 For their possessions had become too great for them to live together, and the land where they sojourned could not sustain them because of their livestock. 8 So Esau lived in the hill country of Seir; Esau is Edom. – Genesis 26:1-8
31 Now these are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king of the sons of Israel reigned. 32 And Bela the son of Beor became king in Edom, and the name of his city was Dinhabah. – Genesis 36:31-32
At first glance, it appears Esau, by worldly standard did pretty well for himself. He had plenty of wealth, plenty of wives and a growing family. His generations even established a King even before Israel, in the hill country of Seir, which is mentioned later in the Old Testament as the Israelites, liberated from slavery in Egypt are traveling to the Promised Land.
I do not know the details of Esau’s kingdom of Seir, but the Bible does not focus on the chronicles of the Land of Sier, who were known as the Edomites. In general I read that Esau and his descendants, one may conclude, received their share of worldly success and power, before, the Romans conquered their land and destroyed their society and culture.
On the other hand, we see in great detail how God was involved in shaping, disciplining, and sometimes punishing the line of Jacob, preparing them and those who are faithful to God a future that goes beyond the temporary wealth and comfort of earthly life. 400 years in bondage to Egyptians? Conquered by the Assyrians, the Babylonians, much of the suffering is documented in the Bible. The Israelites were then destroyed and scattered by the Romans in 70 A.D., and have been the target of Satan driven Anti-Christs through in various eras… not exactly a joy ride. But every time, God has revealed His plan and brought about restoration of a remnant and the spreading of the Word throughout the Gentile world, all with the vision of His future promise centered on the Gospel.
And God revealed himself through His Son, The Christ through whom the world may be saved from its sin. God came to meet us face to face with a stark message, He came to save humanity from their sin. He, The Lord Christ, came to save us. Otherwise, we are destined to suffer the judgment for sin. In other words, we are already destined to Hell- Jesus Christ came to save us from that.
He offers two clear choices: eternity with God in His eternal Kingdom and an eternity without God, known as Hell. What will you choose? Is anything worth trading for the inheritance contained in God’s Grace of Salvation?
Men in particular are required to act upon to be leaders in their families and communities to help others hear the Gospel. Otherwise, many more will trade the gift of God’s grace for the equivalent of a bowl of soup to gratify a passing yearning.
35 “Gird up your loins, and keep your lamps lit. 36 And be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks – Luke 12:35-36
Study the Bible, It’s God love letter to each of us.
For a one minute explanation of the Gospel from the late Pastor John MacArthur, watch this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCP9UcC7BzE
For a review of the Ten Commandments: https://www.challenyee.com/the-ten-commandments/
ACT LIKE MEN a short talk given by John MacArthur (click on the link)
All quoted excerpts have footnotes removed, usually from Legacy Standard Bible (LSB), sometimes from New International Version (NIV), on rare occasion the Amplified Bible (AMP).
Copyright © 2026 ChallenYee.com Rights Reserved
7-28-24