May 19

“See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.”—HEBREWS 12:16

There was a UK credit card company that had a very clever advertising slogan which said, “Take the Waiting out of Wanting”. This attitude is very prevalent today and the reason why countless people live in excessive debt, with many facing financial ruin. They don’t like waiting. They want things now.

It was the same with Esau, the older twin of Jacob, and it cost him dearly. One day he’d been out hunting and came home famished. Jacob had made a pot of stew and Esau wanted some. “Quick,” he said. “Let me have some of that red stew!” His brother offered him a bargain. “First sell me your birthright.” “Look I’m about to die,” Esau replied. “What good is the birthright to me?” Jacob gave him the stew and some bread. Esau had taken ‘the waiting out of wanting’ and sold his birthright for a plate of stew. As the firstborn son, the birthright would have given him privileged status for the future, but he simply had to have the stew. He couldn’t wait.

In the Christian life, waiting can be a very important time of growth. Waiting involves patience, and the Bible has a lot to say about patience. Ecclesiastes 7:8 says, “The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.” Because of pride, there are people intent on keeping up with the Joneses, but that’s not where contentment lies. It’s in being patient and diligent, waiting upon the Lord for His provision and His blessings.

Today we are inundated with “Buy Now, Pay Later” advertising, which makes it easy and convenient to have what we want now, but God doesn’t work that way. Psalm 37:7 says, “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him.” And Isaiah 5:19, “Woe to those who say let God hurry, let him hasten his work so that we may see it.” Esau regretted his bargain and tried desperately to get his father’s blessing back, but Jacob had already received it. God may have wonderful things in store for us, but if we take the waiting out of the wanting, we can lose it all by our impatience.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, in situations where I’ve made a special request of You, grant me the patience to wait upon You. Make the answer to my prayer what You desire and I’ll be content. Thank You, Lord.

TO REFLECT UPON: Am I waiting upon God for what He wants for me or rushing Him for what I want?