SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                               1160

“The Calamity of Esau”

…For I will bring the calamity of Esau upon him, the time when I punish him. – Jeremiah 49:8

What is the calamity of Esau? As you recall Esau was famished when he returned from hunting and he sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of stew. The Word of God tells us that Esau despised his birthright. He carelessly tossed it aside to satisfy his hunger. God views Esau’s action as disastrous and destructive – a calamity.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. –  1 John 2:15

The word for ‘world’ in the Greek text is ‘kosmos’. It has multiple meanings: the world, universe, worldly affairs, people, and adornment. Which meaning is intended is understood from the context of its use. That is why we understand that God’s Word teaches us to not love the world, which is the things of the world, while we are taught that God so loved the world, the people, that Jesus died that they may have eternal life through Him.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. – John 3:16

How do we avoid the calamity of Esau? We avoid it by having Christ-centered priorities. We must first recognize that we are children of God. We have a spiritual birthright and we must not despise it and act carelessly concerning it. We need to act and behave like children of the Promise and not hide the light of Christ or put our relationship with the Father ‘on the back burner’.

And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. – Galatians 3:29 – 3 John 4

Our priorities need to be eternally focused.

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. – Colossians 3:1-2

How and who we vote for indicates whether we are world friendly or Christ-centered. Take the abortion issue for example.

You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. – James 4:4

Our attitude toward money, work and the accumulation of wealth in relation to maintaining an abiding spiritual relationship and walk with Jesus is indicative of whether or not our love for the world has usurped our spiritual birthright.

The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it … if riches increase, set not your heart on them. – Proverbs 10:22 – Psalm 62:10

Esau was hungry again a short time after eating the stew. We are like a mist on this earth, here today and gone tomorrow. May your walk be in the Truth of your spiritual birthright in Christ, Jesus.

So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. – Psalm 90:12