Making Choices

when it comes right down to it everything is a choice. Every situation is a choice. Positive or negative, good day or bad, angry not angry, all are choices. How you choose to live each day is up to you, but you have to live with the consequences. There are many who claim the devil made me do it, or I am only human, or that is just who I am. What they fail to realize is that when it comes down to it, the decision was a choice and they did whatever it was because they wanted to.

I. Learn to be patient when making decisions (v.30).

Esau was not a patient man. He was hungry, and he wanted to eat now! He had been working all day and was tired. He had been out in the hot sun hunting and walking around. That takes a toll on you after a while, especially when you haven’t eaten. He was hungry and he was not going to wait to eat.

Does this sound familiar? We live in a culture that teaches “I want what I want when I want it, and I don’t want to wait.” We teach our children to go out and get something if they want it. Often our attitude leads to problems.

Esau made a decision without being patient and lost something very dear to him- his birthright. Esau chose what was easiest and what would bring the most satisfaction immediately. The easiest choice is not always the right coice, but usually the wrong choice.

Everyday people make decisions without being patient and as a result lose something dear to them.

Adultery- make a decision in the moment and lose family.

Jesus made a decision that would affect the whole world for all of history. It was not an easy choice, but a very difficult one. He struggled with the fact that He would take on the sin of the entire world. He chose to die on the cross for our sins. He was buried and rose again to give us new life. He was patient in his choice. Had he chosen during a weak moment (like the garden) he might not have done it. Praise God Jesus died for you and me!

II. Consider the consequences when making decisions (v.31-32).

A birthright is a foreign thing to us. The birthright in those days meant that the firstborn son obtained the largest portion of the inheritance. The birthright included a blessing from the father, a double portion of the inheritance, and the right to rule over the entire family when the father was gone. This is a major position to have. This was Esau’s position. As the first born, he inherited the birthright and the authority in the family. For him to sell his birthright would have major consequences.

Jacob was a deceiver. He would do whatever he had to do to get what he wanted. This time was no different. He wanted the birthright. He found Esau at a vulnerable moment and moved in.

Esau never once considered the consequences of his actions. He only wanted to fill his stomach.

The drunk never considers the consequences when they climb behind the wheel of a car.

The husband never considers the consequence when they have the affair.

The people never considered the consequences when they crucified Jesus.

The people never considered the consequences when the black man became a slave.

The lost person never considers the consequences of rejecting Christ.

Every choice has consequences. A good choice has positive consequences, a poor choice has poor consequences. We must live with the consequences of what we do.

III. What are you willing to pay?

Esau was willing to pay way too much for a bowl of soup and some bread. He was willing to pay whatever it took. How often do we sell out for a measly bowl of soup? Too often we are willing as Esau was, to pay far to great a price for what we want.

We want fun- even at the expense of others

We want to be cool- make fun of the kid at school.

We want prosperity- we give up our integrity

We want live life and settle down later- later is often too late for God.

In Acts 5 we learn that Ananias and Sapphira were willing to trade their lives for wealth. In 1 Samuel 13: 8-14, Saul was willing to trade his kingdom rather than wait upon the Lord. Judas was willing to sell his soul for thirty pieces of silver.

The question that we must ask ourselves is what am I willing to pay for what I want? If we will stop and way the consequences of our actions we will often find the price is far too much for a mere bowl of stew.