I was only eight years old when I made up my mind: I was not going to make the same mistake.
During Sunday school, my teacher shared a story that left a lasting impression on me. It was about a wealthy man with two sons. According to tradition, the eldest son was meant to inherit everything—the land, the wealth, the legacy. But to everyone’s shock, he gave it all away. And for what? A plate of food.
The story hit me hard because as the firstborn in my family, the thought of giving up my birthright for something as fleeting as a meal was incomprehensible. Even at that young age, I understood the significance of a birthright—not just as an inheritance but as a symbol of responsibility and trust.
In the story, Esau had returned home famished after a long day of hard work. He met his younger brother, Jacob, cooking and asked for some food. Jacob, seizing the opportunity, demanded Esau’s birthright in exchange for the meal. Esau, with little regard for the weight of his position or the power it held, willingly gave it up. He even swore an oath to confirm the transaction (Genesis 25:29-34). In that moment, the thought of immediate satisfaction clouded his judgment and his ability to see the magnitude of what he was letting go of.
I think we can all agree that exchanging wealth and legacy for a plate of food that would be gone in mere hours is a foolish trade.
Failing to accept Jesus—who died for us (Romans 5:8), resurrected (Matthew 28:5-7), and promised to return to take us back (John 14:3-10)—is another way of selling your birthright. But in this case, the stakes are eternal, and the adversary is the devil, who prowls around seeking to devour you (1 Peter 5:8).
As an adult, many years after first hearing this story, I now see how living in sin and not accepting Jesus is similar to trading an eternal reward for temporary pleasures and fleeting feelings. Just as with Esau, there is nothing the devil gives that is authentic or eternal. What he offers pales in comparison to the eternal reward found in the life that Jesus offers.
Do not be like Esau, who owned everything but threw it all away for something temporary. It’s a foolish trade.
