Why are we willing to gamble away “our long term for a short term?”
Why must we have it right now, instead of getting it later on?
Esau, when he encountered his brother Jacob preparing stew was not able to look past his immediate desires, to see what the long term results of his actions would produce. In selling his birthright, Esau lost his rightful place as the one to receive the blessings and inheritance of his father; he rejected the privilege to carry on the family name. We like Esau, are blinded by our immediate desires, which cause us to overlook the blessings that God has yet to give us.
It is clear through Esau’s words that he was consumed with his “right now,” and could not see his “later on.” In Genesis 25:30-32 Esau makes 3 statements that show his decisions were made “in the moment.”
1. “Quick, let me have some of that red stew.”(vs. 30)
2. “I am famished.” (vs. 30a)
3. “I am about to die.” (vs. 31)
Point #1: This tells me that Esau wanted what I call a “quickie.” He wanted it fast quick and in a hurry. He was not concerned about anything else except “getting his.” This was common vernacular for my buddies and I, when we were young. It meant we don’t need any of the fixings; just give it to me like it is, and give it to me NOW! As we grew older it became clear that we should not only be concerned with the fact that we were willing to take “quickies” but that there was a person willing to give a “quickie.” Who in their right mind will give away something that is so precious and has taken time to prepare, without wanting something in return? “If we wanted ours, then they wanted theirs.”
"Those who are fueled by their present desires, and inattentive to the long term ramifications of their decision will generally go for a quickie." Our housing marketing, banking industry, automobile industry, and so many other things are in shambles, because we gambled on a quickie. There is no value in those quickies, and for many of us, it has left us in debt without the money to pay.
I wish I could go back to all of the wrong people, the wrong things, and my wrong actions, and get back all of the good times, effort, money, and morality I wasted on them. I’m sure what I wasted then, would be worth so much more now.
As you live your life in Christ don’t go for the “quickie."
“NEVER SACRIFICE WHAT YOU WANT MOST FOR WHAT YOU WANT FOR THE MOMENT.”
See you next time when we talk about being famished.
Blessings,
Darryl
