31 But Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright as of this day.”
32 And Esau said, “Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?”
Genesis 25:31-32
Esau’s statement to Jacob in this text shows that he was short-sighted. How can a first born ask what profit his birthright will be to him? That statement was made with only the moment in mind. People who have unrestrained passion can’t see afar off. Their vision is blurred. They always sacrifice the permanent on the altar of the immediate. Esau couldn’t see afar off. In effect, he wanted what would satisfy his passion immediately.
You may be in a relationship to be married and you know sex before marriage is a sin. You are not ignorant. Then your passions come alive for each other and you violate the Word of God in order to satisfy them. What a shame! God will forgive you if you ask, but do you know how difficult it would be to forgive yourself? Or maybe God is about to give you a contract in a company.
You’ve been waiting and waiting, praying and praying, sowing and sowing. Just about the time that your breakthrough is about to happen, you become afraid. You buckle under the pressure and you give a bribe to the official who says he can “make it happen.” You tell yourself it is PR (Public Relations) but your heart screams that it is a bribe.
I believe Christians should be grateful. I believe Christians should show gratitude. If you think anybody helped you in getting any contract, after executing the contract, go and thank them. If you want to give them something, go ahead and do so. If however, in giving something you know clearly that it’s still a bribe, then you’re eating your reward before the time. You are sacrificing the permanent on the altar of the immediate.
Confession:
Father, You hatched Your plans for me before the foundation of the world, even before I came on the scene. Your plans for me are long-term plans. I will not replace them with short-term short cuts, in Jesus’ Name. Amen