What Would You Do For Stew?

Genesis 25: 32-33

“Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?” 

But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.”

So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob.

Have you ever promised something and followed up that promise with, “Fine. Whatever. Doesn’t matter anyway.”

If you take important things seriously, your word means something. Your word is something others can count on. You know what matters and what doesn’t. If you act and speak like something doesn’t matter to you, it obviously doesn’t.

Esau was a hunter. Jacob was a cook. One day when Esau came back from a hunting trip, the only thing on his mind was the stew Jacob was cooking. It smelled good. Very appetizing.

Esau was hungry. Jacob was scheming to get as much as he could in return for his fabulous stew. Esau, being the firstborn son, had something Jacob wanted. His birthright. This was Jacob’s opportunity to find out how seriously Esau took his birthright. Jacob knew no stew was worth giving up your birthright for, but Esau looked pretty hungry.

Jacob made Esau swear to give Jacob his birthright before filling up a big bowl with that aromatic, warm, mouth-watering, meaty stew.

Esau gave up something very important over a bowl of stew. Not a lifetime supply. Just one bowl. Today, some girls give up their innocence over a date. Some get knee-deep in debt over expensive entertainment items. Is it worth it? Really?

What would it take for you to give up something important? Maybe we should take inventory of the really important things we still have and guard against the deceitfulness of others. What in your life is important enough to protect?