Your Birthright (Hebrews 12:14-17)
Just a few years ago (2012), Dakoda Garren, a 19-year-old from Washington state was charged with stealing a rare coin collection worth at least $100,000. After Garren had completed some part-time work for a woman living north of Portland, the woman reported that her family coin collection was missing. Her collection included a variety of rare and valuable coins, including Liberty-Head quarters, Morgan dollars, and other coins dating back to the early 1800s.
Initially, Garren denied taking the coins, but then he started spending the coins at face value, apparently unaware of their worth. He and his girlfriend paid for movie tickets using quarters worth between $5 and $68 apiece. After the movie, they bought some pizza with the rare coins, including a Liberty quarter that may be worth up to $18,500.
Yahoo News reported, “Garren has been charged with first-degree theft and is being held in jail on $40,000 bond. Which, technically, is an amount he could easily afford if the valuable coin collection were actually his.” (Eric Pfeiffer, “Man allegedly steals $100,00-coin collection, then spends at face value on pizza and a movie,” Yahoo! News, 9-21-12; www.PreachingToday. com)
Some people don’t appreciate the value of what they already possess. How about you? How about me? As believers in Christ, we possess unimaginable, spiritual wealth, but sometimes we squander that wealth for cheap thrills. If you have your Bibles, I invite you to turn with me to Hebrews 12, Hebrews 12, where the Bible warns us about selling out.
Hebrews 12:14-17 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears. (ESV)
ESAU SOLD HIS BIRTHRIGHT.
He traded something of great value for a bowl of stew! You see, as the first-born son in his family, Esau was entitled to special privileges; but when he sold his birthright, he gave up those privileges.
First, he gave up the privilege off being a priest. The first-born son was especially consecrated (or given-over) to God. In families that didn't know the Lord, they carried this to the extreme and often sacrificed their first-born sons to their pagan gods. But in Esau's family, a good Jewish family, the first-born would be given to God to serve Him. He would have the privilege of representing his family before God as the priest of the family. Later on, that privilege would be transferred to the tribe of Levi in Israel (Numbers 3). But in Esau's day, the priesthood still belonged to the first-born. So when Esau sold his birthright, he gave up the priesthood.
More than that, he gave up a double portion of his father's estate. When the father's estate was divided among the sons, the first-born usually got twice as much as the rest of his brothers. For example, if there were 2 sons, the estate would be divided in thirds. The youngest would get one-third, and the eldest would get two-thirds. If there were 3 sons, the estate would be divided into fourths. The younger two would get one-fourth each, and the eldest would get two-fourths. And so on... The first-born's birthright included a double portion of the estate.
Now, for Esau, this estate included all of the Promised Land, the land promised by God to Abraham, Isaac, & their descendants. But in Esau's time, it was still only a promise. The only piece of land his father actually owned was a graveyard. All he had was a promise from God that he would get a whole lot more someday. And for a man like Esau, that promise didn't mean a whole lot.
So when Esau sold his birthright, he gave up the priesthood; he gave up the promises of God; and third, he gave up his power. He gave up his authority as head of the whole family. You see, in his father's absence, the first-born son had authority over his younger siblings. But with that authority came the responsibility to provide for his mother till her death, and for his unmarried sisters until they got married. That's probably why he got a double portion of the estate – so he could provide for his mother and sisters.
Esau had it all! As the first-born, he had the power; he had the promises of God; and he had the priesthood. And yet, he traded it all away for a bowl of stew. After all, of what use was the priesthood for a man like Esau? What would he want with some unfulfilled promises? And why would a man like Esau care about the authority and responsibility of providing for his mother?
He was hungry, and he needed something to feed his face. He valued only the momentary pleasure of a full belly, so he gave up something of infinite value for a bowl of stew. Esau sold his birthright. Now, don’t you do the same.
DON'T SELL YOUR BIRTHRIGHT like Esau did.
Don’t trade away your privileges for momentary pleasures. Don’t exchange something of infinite value for cheap thrills.
For, you see, every believer in Christ has a birthright. Every believer in Christ has special privileges, because they are considered “firstborn” sons of God. Verse 23 says believers belong to “the assembly of the first-born.” So, like Esau, they as God’s first-born have certain “inheritance rights.” I.e., Like Esau, they have the right of the priesthood; they have the right of the promises of God; and they have the right of power and authority.
But the Bible warns believers here in verse 16, “See to it… that no one is… unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal.” My dear believing friends: Please don’t sell your birthright.
First of all, don't sell out on your priesthood. Don’t trade your opportunity for direct access to God for momentary pleasures. For just like the 1st-born in ancient society, you have been set apart wholly for God's service and use; you have been especially consecrated and given over to him.
Every believer has! That's what the word “holiness” means in vs.14. It means to be set-apart from sin unto God. That's our position in Christ. God looks on those of us who have trusted Christ as “holy ones,” as “those who have been set-apart for His special use” (1 Corinthians 1:2; 6:9-11). Otherwise, according to verse 14, we would never be able to see him! The moment you put your trust in Christ, God made you holy in His eyes.
That's your position in Christ, but that's not always your practice, is it? That's why verse 14 says, “Strive for… holiness.” In other words, you ARE set apart for God's special use. Now, strive to behave like it.
A university football coach went out to practice one Monday with his 1st & 3rd string quarterbacks out with injuries. The big game was coming up Saturday, and he had to "make do" with his 2nd, 4th, and 5th string quarterbacks.
In the first five minutes of practice, his 2nd string quarterback (who had become his 1st string) hurt his knee. That elevated the the 4th stringer to the 1st string and put the 5th stringer on the 2nd team.
About 10 minutes later, the 4th stringer (who had become 1st string) hurt his knee. That left the 5th stringer next in line for the 1st team.
The coach blew the whistle and gathered all the players around him. He took the one remaining quarterback, put his arm around him, and said in his gruff voice, “Son, do you believe in magic?”
The quarterback replied in a half-hearted way, “Well, sorta.”
The coach looked at him, pointed his five fingers at him like a magician and said, “Poof! You are now a 1st-string quarterback.”
And it was true! No magic to it at all. That was his position, but in practice he had a long way to go. And the coach only had a week to get him in shape.
That's the way it is anyone who has trusted Christ as their Savior. They have a first-string position on God's team, but in practice they have a long way to go. The only difference is that God will take a life-time to get them in shape.
You are set-apart for God's special use. You are all priests to the living God – all of you who have trusted Christ. Please, don't sell out on that privilege. Don’t trade it in for the momentary pleasures of this world. Instead, Strive for… holiness, verse 14 says. In other words, let Christ your Coach get you in shape for your position on God’s team.
That means you’re going to have to engage in some spiritual disciplines. You’re going to have to spend some time reading the playbook of God’s Word and talking to the Coach in prayer. And you’re going to have to practice with “the team” (i.e., the church) on a regular basis.
All this gets you ready to be used of God in significant ways, but how often do you trade these things in to sleep in on a Sunday morning or to stay out late on a Saturday night and miss church? How often do you exchange the privilege of prayer and Bible study for a busy life pursuing stuff which has no lasting satisfaction? Please don’t do it! Don't sell your birthright for a “bowl of stew,” so to speak. Don't sell out on your priesthood.
And second, don't sell out on the promises of God. Don’t trade your right to discover and enjoy all that God has promised you for the cheap thrills of this world.
For just like the 1st-born in ancient society, you too have an inheritance! And just like it did for Esau, that inheritance includes the promises of God. They're promises given to you purely out of grace. You don't deserve them, but God delights in making promises to you, simply because He loves you.
That’s why verse 15 says, “See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God.” In other words, don't fail to claim God's gracious promises for yourselves. Don't fail to trust God to keep His word in your life.
All of us come short of the glory of God – none of us are perfect. But none of us need to come short of the grace of God – no one needs to miss out on enjoying His promises; and yet, so many believers do.
Years ago, an old Native American, half naked and starving, wandered into a western settlement. He was begging for food to keep from starving to death. The townspeople graciously gave him some bread, and as he devoured it someone noticed a pouch hanging around the Native American’s neck. It was a small, dirty pouch attached with a brightly colored ribbon.
The Native American explained that it was a charm given to him in his younger days. He opened the pouch and displayed a faded, greasy paper. One of the townspeople picked it up and discovered that it was a regular discharge from the Federal Army! It was signed by General George Washington himself, and it entitled the bearer to a pension for life.
Do you know, that's the way some believers treat the promises of God? They hang them around their necks or on their walls in beautiful plaques, but they fail to claim those promises for themselves. And so they walk around in spiritual poverty most of their lives, not knowing how rich they really are.
God has given you a rich inheritance in His promises. There are thousands and thousands of them, and they cover every area of your life. They take care of every need. They are your birthright as God's children. But some believers ignore those promises, or they don’t even take the time to discover what they are. Essentially, they have sold those promises for other pursuits which have far less value.
My dear friends, please don’t sell your birthright. I.e., don’t sell out on your priesthood. Don’t sell out on the promises of God.
And third, don't sell out on your power as a child of God. Don’t trade your spiritual authority for the short-lived pleasure of sin.
For just like the 1st-born in ancient society, God has given us authority. He has given us power over sin. He has given us the ability to keep the bitter root of sin from taking hold in our hearts. That’s why verse 15 says, “See to it…that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled.”
You don't have to let sin spring up in your life like a bitter root. Instead, when you sin, all you need to do is confess that sin and forsake it. Admit it and turn away from it before it takes root in your life and destroys not only you but hurts those around you.
Matt Woodley, of Chicago, Illinois, talks about Steve, a friend of his, who nearly destroyed himself with such a bitter root.
Nineteen years previously, a guy stole Steve’s wife away from him, got married, and moved to Florida while Steve’s life unraveled. After he was arrested for assaulting a police officer, the guy who stole his wife smirked through the entire court hearing. When Steve was convicted, the guy flipped him the finger.
Nineteen years later, Steve told his friend, Matt, “I've hated him for nineteen years. He's coming up here next week, I have a 32-caliber pistol strapped around my ankle, and when I see him I will kill him.” Then he chillingly concluded, “I've thought all about it. I'm 63-years-old. I will get a life sentence, but I'll also get free medical and dental and a warm bed and three meals a day. All of this bitterness and resentment feels so right; forgiveness seems weird.”
After Steve related his story, Matt paused for a long time before he finally stammered, “Well, I guess it doesn't matter if you go to jail, because you're already in jail. The guy who stole your wife and smirked at your hearing isn't in jail. You are. That guy is free, but you're a prisoner of your own hate; and you're slowly killing yourself. And unless you forgive, you'll remain trapped for the rest of your life.”
A week later Steve called Matt and said, “You know, I get your point. I put the gun away. I don't want to spend the rest of my life in jail or enslaved to my own hate. Will you pray for me that Jesus will release me?” (Matt Woodley, Chicago, Illinois, www.PreachingToday.com)
The good news is Jesus has already released you from the power of sin in your life through His death on the cross. As you depend on Him, you don’t need to let bitterness, or anger, or worry, or any other sin take root in your life and do so much damage. Specifically, verse 16 says you don’t have to let things like “sexual immorality” ruin your life.
You can turn from sin, because God has given you the power and the authority to do so. No believer in Christ needs to be a victim any longer; and yet, so many believers trade that power for a poisonous pleasure that is not worth the pain it brings in the end. Please don’t do it!!!
Don't sell your birthright, like Esau did. Don’t sell out on your priesthood. Don’t sell out on the promises of God, and don’t sell out on your power over sin. Instead, enjoy your inheritance rights as children of God, and live like the kings you are!
Charles Galbreath, a pastor of Clarendon Road Church in Brooklyn, New York, tells the story of a black man gunned down by police in his neighborhood. Anger seethed in the neighborhood. Frustration from years of racial oppression was about to erupt in violence. Many people lined up to march down the main street while police gathered, expecting violence.
Charles and a group of pastors rushed to the gathering place and found themselves caught in the middle between the police and the people. Tensions were rising. Insults were being hurled across the divide. One side picked up rocks, the other side clutched their guns. The pastors feared for their lives; bullets could fly at any moment.
Galbreath said that some of the pastors spontaneously walked into the middle of the street between the two warring parties, bowed their heads, and started to pray. They implored God to visit this place. As Charles tells it, slowly the tension died down, the people put down the rocks, and the police took their hands off their holsters. Those who cared stayed. And without a shot fired or rock thrown, conversations began, and God's presence appeared that night in that community. It was the beginning of something new God was doing to bring justice and reconciliation to a street corner. (David Fitch, Seven Practices for the Church on Mission, IVP Praxis, 2018, pp. 124-125; www.PreachingToday.com)
That’s what’s possible when believers appreciate their birthright and use it. Please, don’t sell your birthright. Instead, use it to change your world!
