Despising Your Birthright

Gen 25:34(34) Then Jacob gave Esau bread and soup of lentils. And he ate and drank, and rose up and went his way. And Esau despised his birthright.

Most of us know the story. If you are fuzzy on it, read Genesis 25. Esau traded what was rightly his for the immediate satisfaction of a perceived need.

Gen 25:32(32) And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point of dying, and what profit shall this birthright be to me?

If Esau had really been on his deathbed, there would have been no argument over food. Jacob would have given him something to eat. But the fact of the matter was, Esau wasn't dying, as tired and hungry as he was. Impatient, however - he was. To that end, he really did not esteem what his father had to give with any regard at all.

A birthright, by definition, is the right to possess something (unearned) passed down by your father. It could be land, material wealth, governmental position.

Our Father has adopted us as heirs, agreeing to pass on ALL that is his. Yet we sometimes forfeit what He has to give, qualifying our decision by chasing a perceived 'need'. For instance:
My wife hasn't been paying me much attention, so I had to go sow a few wild oats for my own well-being. It's lentils.

Or...

I've been so tired lately, I just haven't had the energy to go to church. Saturday is the family day and I've just got to have some down-time.

Beans.

Scripture also records the average 'Christian' response, too.
Gen 27:36(36) And he said, It is because his name is called Jacob? For he has supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright, and behold, now he has taken away my blessing. And he said, Have you not reserved a blessing for me?

Victimized. That didn't get very far with Esau's father. How far will it get us with ours?