A LIFE LIVED WITH PURPOSE PRODUCES LASTING RESULTS
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“The desire of the lazy man kills him, for his hands refuse to labor. “—Proverbs 21:25
In the book of Genesis there is a story of two twin
brothers, Jacob and Esau. In their day
and culture, the oldest son received the blessings of the father and got the
inheritance. This scripture reading
gives us a picture of how an individual sacrificed
his future for immediate gratification because he was hungry. “Now
Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field, and he was weary. And Esau said to Jacob, ‘Please feed me with
that same red stew, for I am weary.’ Therefore his name was
called Edom. But Jacob said, ‘Sell me
your birthright as of this day.’ And Esau said, ‘Look, I am
about to die; so what is this
birthright to me?’ Then Jacob said, ‘Swear to me as of this day.’ So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. And
Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and
went his way. Thus Esau despised his
birthright” (Genesis 25:29-34). As you read over this scripture you probably thought, I can not
believe that Esau sold his birthright for a bowl of soup. You may have thought, how foolish! However, stop and think beyond birthrights
and a bowl of soup. Is there anything of
true value that you are trading for something of lesser worth? In other words, what is your “bowl of soup?”
Have you pursued wealth and a career at the expense of
family? Maybe your busy schedule has kept you from spending time with God in
His Word each day. Some people become
involved in extra material affairs, trading the well-being of their family for
the satisfaction of lustful desires.
Other sacrifices their health by consuming harmful or addictive
substances, or even by overindulging in food.
The list of ways we make foolish, shortsighted choices is endless.
Some of the decision we make today could rob us of the
blessings God wants to give to us. When
you yield to temptation in a moment of weakness, you are actually sacrificing your future for momentary
pleasure. We can not afford to live
thoughtlessly, basing our decisions on immediate desires or feelings. Since the principle of sowing and reaping
cannot be reversed, we need to carefully consider what we are planting. The harvest will come, and we will reap what
we have sown—and more than we have sown.
Are you contemplating anything that could have serious
long-term ramifications if you yield to the yearning? A wise person evaluates choices by looking
ahead to see what negative consequences could follow a course of action. Do not let “a bowl of soup” hinder God’s
wonderful plans for you. I encourage you to live your life with purpose.
Prayer—Father I
repent for making bad choices based on graining immediate gratification and I
ask You to forgive me. Lord I ask You to
deliver me from making wrong choices, in Jesus Name. Amen.
