In 1992, a team of us worked feverishly on a 3-5-10 year plan to grow the business of basketball internationally. The NBA was participating in the 1992 Olympics and we were planning on leveraging the opportunity to launch our global business. The Dream Team served to be so popular for us that we quickly realized there was money to be made now despite a lack of the sport being played Internationally and the risk of being labeled a fashion brand. And you guessed it– we grabbed the money while we could. Unfortunately, 15 years later, the NBA closed 2 of its International offices due largely because we rushed to market in a few countries.
“Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. Esau despised his birthright.” Genesis 25:34
Esau came back from hunting hungry and tired. His brother Jacob was preparing some stew and Esau asked him for a bowl. Jacob used this opportunity to negotiate for what seems unimaginable- the family birthright. The birthright is emphasized in the Bible because it honored the rights or privileges of the family’s firstborn son and is a long-term play. After the father died, or in the father’s absence, the firstborn son assumed the father’s authority and responsibilities. In addition to assuming the leadership role in the family, the recipient of the birthright inherited twice that received by the other sons.
Why would Esau take his birthright so lightly? Why would he sell it for a lunch? Because he did not understand its long-term value. But this is not new as every day we exchange birthrights for worldly goods because we see what the world has to offer as more valuable than what God might offer.
- Working on the Sabbath sends the message that I value short-term productivity over long-term rest
- Being anxious about my tomorrow sends the message that He is unable to meet my needs
- Fudging financial figures for short-term shareholder value is really not trusting Him to provide security
Satan keeps me from seeing the real value of my own godly inheritance as he does not want me to know the tremendous gold mine that awaits. So often what is in front of me serves the important and urgent as I find that I can’t see past the now and into tomorrow let alone eternity. Are you making this same mistake?
Esau lost his birthright and the blessings of his father because of a foolish decision. We should never throw away what is important, godly, or honorable for the sake of temporary pleasure. Go the distance.
Reflection |
- Are you positioning your business for the long-term?
- In what areas are you selling short spiritually?