Genesis 25: Parents

Choosing What Lasts: A Lesson in Prioritization

Genesis 25:34
"Jacob gave Esau some bread and lentil stew. Esau ate the meal, then got up and left. He showed contempt for his rights as the firstborn."

Throughout childhood, there have been many opportunities to teach our kids about avoiding short-term pleasure for long-term gain. The desire for immediate gratification is so difficult to control, and when you see your kids succeed, lather on the praise! For example, I remember when my son Bradon wanted to buy a camera to work on his photography skills. He needed $250 and worked hard to save up that money. I saw him deny himself many opportunities to spend his money on other things because he knew what was more valuable for his future. I not only celebrated his discipline after the final purchase, but I continued to reference it throughout his childhood as an example for all of us as a family.

Here in Genesis 25, we find Esau, driven by his immediate desires, selling his birthright for a simple meal. His hunger overpowered his value for the long-lasting blessing attached to his status as the firstborn.

As parents, our task is to help our children discern the transient from the lasting, to choose wisely what they value. Like Jacob, let's teach them to have an eye for what is enduringly precious.

The next time you observe your child making choices, engage them in a conversation about the value of what they are trading off. Let the exchange between Esau and Jacob serve as a reminder that our decisions should be influenced not by momentary desires but by the enduring worth of what God has for us. In the Kingdom of God, the eternal always outlasts the ephemeral, and the choices we make today can impact our lives far beyond the immediate.