Trading Eternity for Modern Day Pottage

When reading Genesis 25 one is introduced to Esau and Jacob (Genesis 25:25-26). Esau, the hunter of the family (Genesis 25:28) returned home to find his brother making pottage or “lentil soup” (Genesis 25:29). “And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.” (Genesis 25:30). In fact, Esau would state that his hunger was to the point where, “I am at the point to die…” (Genesis 25:32). Why would Esau state such a thing? That was his response to a statement made by Jacob. Jacob was willing to part with the pottage for a price. “Sell me this day thy birthright” (Genesis 25:31). At this point, Esau was willing to part ways with his birthright because he would soon “die” from hunger. His birthright would be worth nothing if he were dead. Esau parted ways with his birthright for a bowl of soup (Genesis 25:33-34; Hebrews 12:16). What blessings come with the birthright? At the death of Isaac Esau would have received a double portion of the inheritance, he would have been the one to offer sacrifices for the family, he would be of high rank in the family, and in this instance he would have been the one to carry the name of Abraham and the promises given to him. He lost all of that for soup. In the end, was it worth trading his birthright for something that turned out to be as insignificant as soup?

What about today? Can someone trade eternity for modern day pottage? Yes, one can trade eternity for things that are insignificant by comparison. Christ once asked the question, “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26; Mark 8:37). Look at what is gained and lost. A man has the ability to gain the world and all it has to offer. Fame, fortune, and a multitude of earthly benefits are at his fingertips. In the process of gaining all of these things, that same man will lose his own soul. When you compare the two it is like giving up your birthright in exchange for soup. Yet, some will choose material possessions over the gifts of God. What is the end result of such a choice? The rich fool had treasures of this earth built for himself and lost his soul (Luke 12:20). Furthermore, God asked this rich fool a very important question. To whom will these items belong after you are dead? What will a man leave behind after death? Everything he ever earned. In the end, is it worth losing your soul over something that will inevitably be insignificant?

Consider the response of Esau when he realized that he had truly lost his birthright and his blessing (Genesis 27:34-38; Hebrews 12:16-17). In multiple parables Christ gave the end result of those who trade their eternal blessings for something insignificant. He said there would be ”weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 22:13, 24:51, 25:30). In the end is it worth it? It certainly was not to Esau. Do not trade your eternal blessings for modern day soup.