Christ Triumphant - A Devotional by E.G. White
| Never Sacrifice Integrity Nor Despise your Birthright |
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Today's Text:
And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: ... And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.... And he sold his birthright unto Jacob. Genesis 25:30-34
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The Message:
There is too much yielding to desire and inclination for present enjoyment. There is not that earnest soul hunger for spiritual strength and heavenly wisdom. Temptations are yielded to, the appetite is gratified, and there is a separation from God.... You remember the case of Esau. He passed the crisis of his life without knowing it. What he regarded as a matter worthy of scarcely a thought was the act that revealed the prevailing traits of his character. It showed his choice, showed his true estimate of that which was sacred and which should have been sacredly cherished. He sold his birthright for a small indulgence to meet his present wants, and this determined the after course of his life. To Esau, a morsel of meat was more than the service of his Master.-Letter 5, 1877.
Oh, that the people of God would consider that by one wrong action on their part a blot is made in the history and experience that nothing but the blood of Christ can wash away. Every action of the life should be carefully considered, for it is sending forth to the world, as from an open fountain, streams of blessing or streams of evil. Let those who know their Bibles live the life of Christ. All should consider that they are doing work that will be as lasting as eternity.... No one in our world can do a selfish act but that they are in danger of selling their birthright for a mess of pottage. Let them remember that Esau was controlled by his desires; appetite and inclination ruled the man, and he sold his soul for the gratification of appetite. Are there any doing this who know the present truth? ... "Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright." How many whose names are registered on the church books will, for the sake of some selfish advantage, sacrifice integrity and risk the consequences. In order to gratify their own carnal desires, they will walk unguarded into Satan's snares. For selfish influences they sell their peace, they sell their souls. After his desire was gratified, Esau regretted what he had done. "For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears." May the Lord grant that everyone who has named the name of Christ shall depart from all iniquity!-Letter 47, 1894. |
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Commentary:
My friend, there are many in the church today that are of the same character as Esau. They have the blessed birthright of God; they are professed followers of Christ, but in their lives they show that they despise the life of Christ, for instead of denying self they are indulging in the flesh and giving in to the wants of the moment. Romans 13:14 says "But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof." We are exhorted not to make provision for the flesh, meaning that we are not to consider the flesh that we may make provision for it.
How many today are selling their divine birthright for the passing pleasures of the world. We are to follow the example of Jesus. Jesus said in Luke 19:23, 24 "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it."
My friend, we are to seek after the righteousness of Christ as we would hunger and thirst after it. If Christ is not the driving force of your life then you are in danger of trading your birthright for the passing pleasures of this world.
May you seek after Christ with all of your heart, that He may abide with you today.
God bless,
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