A Hill of Beans

[0:00] A Pastor's Reflections, A Hill of Beans, Genesis 25, 34. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lintels, and he did eat and drink and rose up and went his way.

[0:14] Thus Esau despised his birthright. Zechariah 4, 10. For who has despised the day of small things? In Genesis 25, Esau had just made one of the most foolish decisions of his life.

[0:30] He had just placed his entire inheritance as the firstborn on the line for a meal of bean soup. Not exactly top-tier decision-making. The knowledge of such a foolish decision haunted Esau the rest of his life.

[0:45] It turned his heart hard and his attitude sour towards something that God had intended to be a blessing. Esau chose to be ruled by his appetite and had nothing but a hill of beans to show for his folly.

[1:00] Not all that glitters is gold, and not all that looks worthless is of no value. For Esau, he equated the value of his birthright with that of a bowl of beans.

[1:11] And in like manner, there are many who would look at the precious things of faith as if they had little to no value, because of what can be gained now. Present suffering is despised, but it results in future glory.

[1:26] Present trials are avoided, but they produce future patience. Present weakness is looked down upon, but it creates future strength. Esau saw no value in his God-given blessing of being the firstborn beyond what he could gain and obtain now.

[1:45] What had great value for the future was lost in his inability to recognize value outside of what he could have in the present. Do not let the pressures and values of today rob you of what God has for you tomorrow.

[2:01] What appears to be only a hill of beans may be the place of God's next great victory. 2 Samuel 23, 11 and 12 The things of true value are never just for the present time.

[2:35] They have an eternal quality that will result in eternal blessing, no matter how they look today. Hebrews 12, 11 Now no correction for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous.

[2:51] Nevertheless, afterward, it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness. Father, thank you for the neverthelesses in my life today, and thank you for all of the afterwards that are found in your eternal plan that stretches far past my temporary vision.

[3:09] Thank you that all things of true value come from you. Help me not to get caught up in the temporary, but to live for the eternal. Amen. Amen.