Thoughts on Christian Living Book #2 by Dr. W. A. Dillard - HTML preview

DOES ANCIENT ESAU TEACH US ANYTHING?

“Looking carefully . . . lest there be any . . . profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright.” Hebrews 12:16-17

To be sure, the grave error of ancient Esau teaches much. The appropriate question remains, “Is the lesson of Esau being heard and heeded?” Is it really possible for one to “sell out” the way ancient Esau did? (Heb. 12:16). May the lure of wealth, power, prestige, position, security, style, or the approval and praise of others lead one to barter away God’s riches for a single meal? Because the scriptures referenced above begins with “Looking carefully,” sober thoughts are demanded by that caution.

It apparently seems easy for some to put spiritual things on the back burner of life. The allurements of materialism offered by the world is both dazzling and strong. One may rationalize that it is worth abandoning spiritual things for a few years to amass wealth that would allow them to do significant things materially for His cause, but that too, is an illusion. It is as the fellow who said to his friend, “If I had a million dollars, I would give you half of it.” His friend replied, “That’s O.K., just give me half of the one hundred dollars you have!”

Esau sought to change his father’s mind and gain the inheritance he had forfeited by his preference for a bowl of soup over his future: the double-portion right as the firstborn son. But he could not undo the damage he had done to himself. He had to live with that foolish decision.

Likewise, Neither can we turn back the clock, and undo the foolish/wrong we have done to ourselves and to others; furthermore, God will not redo the past. It is irrevocable, but when we repent, He has promised to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. He is so willing and ready to do this for His every repentant person. But let it be understood that there is a vast difference between the sins most commonly committed in the routine of life from the sin of turning away from the blessed covenant relationship we have with Him in the faith once delivered to the saints: which is the substance of the church. If we willfully barter that away for the allurements of the world, we forfeit a blessed and eternal inheritance even as Esau forfeited his, and could not regain it though he sought it carefully with tears.

Nothing — absolutely nothing is worth selling out THE FAITH with which we have been lovingly entrusted. If we have hearing ears, and discerning hearts, ancient Esau does indeed teach us much! Let us then be quick to learn from him.

FOR THOUGHT: The history of others recorded in the bible is preserved for

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