- Desire: The strong pull toward something we believe will satisfy us.
- What do I do when what I want right now competes with what I want most?
Genesis 25:27-34 (The Voice) // When the boys grew up, they could not have been more different. Esau became a skillful hunter and preferred to be outdoors. Jacob, on the other hand, grew up to be a contemplative man, content to stay at home. Esau was Isaac’s favorite because he was fond of good meat, but Jacob was Rebekah’s favorite.
One day, while Jacob was cooking a stew for dinner, Esau came in from the field. He was tired and hungry.
Esau (to Jacob): Please let me have some of that red stew you have there. I’m famished!
(That’s why he was nicknamed Edom, which means “red.”)
Jacob sees Esau’s weakness and decides to take advantage of the situation.
Jacob: First, you have to sell me your birthright.
Esau: Look! I am about to die of starvation! What good is my birthright to me if I am dead?
Jacob: Swear to me first!
And so Esau swore to Jacob and handed over his rights as the firstborn son. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and lentil stew. Esau ate and drank. When he was satisfied, Esau went his way as if nothing had happened. Esau treated his valuable birthright contemptuously.
- The bowl= what I want now.
The birthright = what I want most.
- Desire gets loud
- Be careful when "I want it" starts sounding like "I need it."
- Depletion gives desire a megaphone.
- Desire distorts value.
- Desire doesn’t change what’s valuable. It changes what feels valuable.
- Desire ignores the price tag
- Don't trade what you want most for what you want now
- What is this desire actually costing me?
Matthew 4:2-4 (NIV) After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
- Esau submitted his future to his appetite.
- Jesus submitted His appetite to His Father.
- Desire makes a terrible master.
- Choose the ultimate over the immediate
- What do I want right now?
- What do I want most?
- Which choice moves me toward what I want most?
- You can want the bowl without bowing to the bowl.
