"The Bowl Of Stew"

^{"Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright."  Genesis 25:33,34}

Esau sold Jacob his birthright for a bowl of stew.  His birthright was his inheritance of goods and position.  It was his blessing.  It was the blessing of his generations to follow.  It was his place of authority, but he sacrificed it all, he gave it all up for a bowl of stew.

The bowl of stew represented the temporary.  It represented fleshly pleasure.  It represented the works of man's hands.  It represented the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life.  It represented self-preservation.  It represented self-centeredness. 

Esau sacrificed his God-given birthright out of fear-- he thought he would die without it.  He sacrificed it because he didn't think he could make it without it.  He sacrificed it because he misplaced his affections.  He sacrificed it because he trusted in it instead of God to sustain him.

We can learn a great lesson from Esau's mistake, if we will.  Many are sacrificing the eternal for the temporary.  Many are sacrificing a moment of pleasure for the blessings of God.  Many are sacrificing the riches of God for selfish lusts and desires.  None of us are exempt from the temptation to choose the bowl of stew over our spiritual inheritance.  Many ministers have fallen into this snare.  They have sacrificed the anointing for their own plans.  They have sacrificed their spiritual authority to please men.  They have chosen the "bowl of stew" over the presence of the Holy Spirit.  They have done it out of fear of losing their congregations.  Fear of not fulfilling their dreams.  Fear of failure.  Fear of not having the accolades of men.  Fear is a deadly weapon that the enemy uses against all of us.  But God hasn't given us a spirit of fear.  Fear doesn't have power over us unless we let it.  Fear has been defeated by Jesus.  There is no fear in love, perfect love in Christ casts out fear.  We must all be on guard and stand against fear. 

What is your bowl of "stew"?  Are you sacrificing the eternal for the temporary?  The blessings of God for the lusts of the flesh?  What are you sacrificing and exchanging today?  If we give into the temptation of the bowl of stew, then we will be sacrificing something that we will regret later. 

Have a great day.  Gaining the "bowl of stew" is not worth what you lose in the long run.