SOUP ANYONE?

Genesis 25:29-34

29 Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished.

30 He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom.)

31 Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright. ”

32 “Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?”

33 But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob.

34 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.

When we read the story of Jacob and Esau, we can't imagine selling our birthright for a bowl of soup. That would be a foolish thing to do. But, is there anything of true or great value that you are trading for something of a lesser worth? So, what is your "bowl of soup"?

Have you pursued a career or maybe sought after wealth at the expense of family? Perhaps you have allowed your busy schedule to keep you from spending time with God in prayer or in His Word each day. Some even get involved in extramarital affairs...giving in to the satisfaction of lustful desires...thereby, trading the well-being of their family. Some choose to sacrifice their health by overindulging in food or by consuming harmful or addictive substances. There are many ways we can make shortsighted, foolish choices...the list is endless.

Are you aware that some of our choices, our decisions, could actually rob us of the blessings that our Heavenly Father wants to give us? When we allow ourselves to yield to temptation in a moment of weakness, we are sacrificing our future for momentary pleasure. We can not afford to live our lives without giving thought to the results that our decisions might put us in. In other words, we can not base our decisions on spontaneous feelings and desires. As the saying goes, "we will reap what we have sown"...and even more sometimes. The principle of sowing and reaping can not be reversed; therefore, we must carefully consider what we are planting.

If you yield to the yearning, are there any serious, long-term ramifications that could result from anything you are contemplating? We must be wise, evaluate our choices, and look ahead to see what negative consequences might follow a particular course of action. 

We must not allow a "bowl of soup" to hinder God's wonderful plans that He has designed for us.