In Genesis 25, we find the familiar biblical story of Esau selling his birthright to Jacob in return for a bowl of pottage. More concerned with satisfying his belly than honoring his inheritance as the first born son, Esau despised his birthright, giving Jacob the right to enjoy the greatest blessings of his father’s inheritance.

How often we do the same thing! Regularly, we satisfy our earthly desires and passions at the expense of the spiritual birthright we have in Christ. As a child of God, we have access to The Lord’s joy, peace, patience, contentment, provision, and so much more. Yet, more interested in fulfilling our physical hungers than our spiritual ones, we despise the treasures God has for us, often prompting Him to give them to another.

Later, in Genesis 27, we find another familiar biblical story: Jacob stealing Esau’s blessing from Isaac. In this account, we find a real life example of the truth found in the Parable of the Talents, i.e., “from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.” Esau no longer had his birthright because he despised it in comparison to the value he placed on his earthly lusts. In return for his lack of foresight, God then allowed Jacob to take away from Esau that which he still had: the right to his father’s blessing.

We need to value our inheritance in Christ. If we don’t – if we despise it as Esau did, preferring to fill our bellies rather than feed our souls with the promises of God – God will likely take away our blessings until we learn how to properly cherish His grace, His mercy, and His love towards us.