The Birthright

The Birthright

“Lest there be any fornicator or ungodly person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.” Heb. 12:16-17.

One could believe that it was pious of Esau to renounce his birthright. But he is described as being ungodly because he sold it. By selling it, he despised it.

We have great promises in Christ. The promises concern an abundant entrance into God’s kingdom, being kings and priests, sitting with Jesus on His throne, etc. These are great things, and many Christians think they are humble when they renounce this glory. One can hear it said, “I am happy with just getting in over the threshold and being saved like the thief on the cross.”

These seemingly humble Christians often pass judgment on those who believe in the promises and who act according to what Peter writes: “Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your calling and election sure . . . .” 2 Pet. 1:10-11.

Esau awoke when it was too late; but he could not change anything even though he sought to with tears. The foolish virgins had the same experience, and these seemingly pious and humble Christians will also experience the same thing.

Esau enjoyed the moment; he did not believe in his calling and his election. The hypocrites are the same. They do not want to take up the cross that will make them into kings and priests. They are ungodly, defiling themselves with the world. That is the same as despising their calling, thus despising God who has called them and given the promises.

Jesus says that “he who loves father or mother . . . son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. . . . And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.” Matt. 10:37-38.

We must be worthy of Jesus if He is to fulfill His promises in our lives and have His way with us. You have been deceived if you reckon yourself so lowly that you are not worthy of Jesus. There isn’t a single person who is too lowly to be worthy of Jesus; but if you despise Jesus, you are not worthy of Him, which is what those people do who love father or mother, son or daughter more than Jesus. And the one who does not want to deny himself in order to follow Jesus esteems his desires more highly than Him. This is despising Jesus terribly. Of course such a person is not worthy of Him.

The hypocrites act as if they consider Jesus so highly exalted that they are too lowly to follow Him and become like Him! But if they had esteemed Him so highly, they would have believed His promises as Peter did when he saw himself as a sinful man and Jesus invited him to follow Him. He arose and forsook everything and followed Jesus. He was worthy of Him.