And Jacob sod
pottage [made
something like lentil stew]: 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 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
lentils; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau
despised his birthright. Genesis,
Chapter 25, verses 29-34.
Unfortunately, I can identify with Esau. I’ve been a “Sell-out Christian,” selling out
my ethics more times than I can mention for food. Food and control are my two biggest vices. Satan loves to dangle very subtle things in
front of us to pull us into his control.
It’s so easy to sell out our Christian ethics
without even realizing it. It might be by things like spending too much time on
the computer that our family goes without our presence. The computer temporarily becomes a priority
over our family. It might be by telling
only partial truths. Of course, we
always tell ourselves that we are doing it to protect others. Do we come up with reasons why we don’t have
time to pray, but spend hours in front of the TV?
There are lots of subtle ways we sell out our
Christian ethics without ever noticing.
Esau lived to regret selling his birthright. I don’t want to live to regret selling out my
Christian ethics either. I don’t want
God telling me on the Last Day, “Debbie, I have other accommodations waiting
for you, because you don’t deserve a spot in heaven. You were too busy doing your own thing to be
bothered with leading your life as an example of your love for Me.”
Since
this is an example of the positive influence God has made on my walk
with Christ, this may not reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verses.