Selling Out Cheap

SELLING OUT CHEAP
Gen 25:27-34
Morning Meditation 5/11/2007
"And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents. And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob. And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me,I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom. And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went hisway: thus Esau despised his birthright."Jacob and Esau represent opposing principles; only now those principles are brought out into the open. The conflict and its issue is now enacted whereeveryone can see it. Sooner or later the inner struggle we experience willmanifest itself openly in our lives.
First let's look at-
THE UNAPPRECIATED PRIVILEGE
"And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. And Esau said, Behold, Iam at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? AndJacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold hisbirthright unto Jacob."The attitude of the two boys is demonstrated in the sale of the birthright. Esau was a man of the field. He was probably admired by all those aroundhim. He had the smell of the field on him and he often brought back venisonand his father delighted in him. He was Isaac's favorite. Esau representswhat we are by nature. His mind was on the present. He did not look into thefuture.Jacob was a plain man living in tents. Jacob saw into the future. He wasinterested in what God was doing and his desires were Spiritual. In the case of Esau and Jacob the conflict went on and came to a head whenJacob brought Christ into the world and Esau brought Herod. Esau did notappreciate the privilege of the first born. There is no discharge in theconflict between the two natures. The flesh and the Spirit will never bereconciled.
Next we see-
A TIME OF DECISION
This was a testing time. This test was not where Esau began his decline. It only manifests a confirmed attitude. The flesh is popular and is totally egocentered. When he was confronted with a decision that had to do with eternal things he failed the test.Note three things about Esau. Hebrews 12:16, "Lest there be any fornicator,or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright."1. He was a fornicator.2. He was a profane person.3. He sold his birthright for comparatively nothing.There is a time in our lives where we must make a decision. How you respondto God's call on your life will reveal if you follow Esau or Jacob. This time may be a time of weakness. Satan tempted Jesus during a forty dayfast in the wilderness. Satan is a master in catching us when things aregoing bad. It may be trouble with finances, sickness that has affected yourthinking; it may be a child that is rebelling and it's breaking your heart. This is a bad time to make important decisions. We need to learn to dealscripturally with how circumstances are not in our favor. There comes a time in every Christian's life that he must make a decisionabout the depth of his commitment to the Lord. What are we willing to giveup to answer His call. What if God calls your child to preach and go out asa missionary? Would you encourage him to follow the Lord no matter what?What about your personal commitment? Is Christ first in your life?
THE TIME OF REGRET
here was a time when Esau regretted this bad decision. Hebrews 12:17, "Forye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, hewas rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought itcarefully with tears."Esau found no place of repentance. It had nothing to do with his salvation;it had to do with the Spiritual privilege that would be afforded him becauseof his birthright. The door was slammed in his face forever. Will there be a time of regret for the Christian who has no depth to hiscommitment to the Lord. The saved will stand before the Lord and his works will be tested by fire. 1Corinthians 3:15, "If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss:but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire."What about the man whose works are put to the test of fire and he stands being reminded of what might have been. Tears will not be wiped away untilafter the Judgment Seat of Christ. I want to remind you, you will not bejudged at this judgment. Our judgment as Christians has already taken place on the Cross. However, there will be grief by those who were just nominal Christians.
Revelation 21:4 says, "And God shall wipe away all tears fromtheir eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying,neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passedaway."Esau sold out cheap. He did not appreciate the eternal value of thebirthright. When decision time came, because he did not place a proper valueon his birthright, he sold it for a bowl of stew. He regretted that he soldthe birthright, but it did not change what had happened.May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.
In Christ
Bro. Tarr's Friend --Dr. White