Let’s Not Despise Our Birthright
In Genesis 25:29-34 we have the account of Esau returning home from hunting and he was hungry. Jacob had cooked a pottage of lentils and Esau wanted some. Jacob said, "Sell me your birthright as of this day" (v. 31). Esau said, "What profit shall this birthright be to me?" (v. 32), "and he sold him his birthright unto Jacob" (v. 33), for a serving of lentils. Then we read, "Thus Esau despised his birthright" (v. 34).
Today some members of the Lord’s church "are choked with the cares and riches and pleasures of this life" (Luke 8:14) and end up selling their eternal birthright of Heaven to Satan, just as Esau sold his to Jacob. The invitation to spend eternity in Heaven is despised just as Esau despised his birthright. But we are warned, "Let no one cheat you of your reward" (Colossians 2:18). The Bible says, "Do not be deceived, neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). We don’t want to be like Esau and despise our eternal reward in Heaven for brief pleasures of sin in this short life. Those, who are not faithful to God, have chosen to be "cast into the lake of fire and brimstone" where "they will be tormented day and night forever and ever" (Revelation 20:10). This is the choice they made because they have despised their birthright.
Let’s not despise our birthright which, "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him" (1 Corinthians 2:9). God will only give the birthright of Heaven to those who are "faithful until death" (Revelation 2:10).