What You Presently Reject You May Later Regret

Someone I know did not see value in a gift they received and carelessly neglected it. Later, no number of tears could get it back. What was presently rejected was later regretted.

For some, they once professed to believe Christianity, yet because of the attitudes and actions of others, or seeing little practical value in it, they walk away never to recover (Gen 25:27-34).

v. 27-28. Same parents, very different personalities – by design. But the real problem: Partiality. Playing favorites, promotes friction; it’s sin that causes strife (James 2:1-10, 3:17, 1 Tim 5:21).

v. 29-31. Genuine faith “is living without scheming”. Birthright was a privilege. A double portion of inheritance. Jacob desired it, Esau didn’t care. One had no faith, the other unscrupulous faith.

When we live for the “here and now”, we risk selling our spiritual future for temporal appetites. When we use faith for personal gain, we can become a stumblingblock for struggling souls. Our poor example can become another’s excuse for rejecting Jesus or walking away from “the church”.

v. 32-34. Desperation makes for poor decision-making. Our values over time condition our choices. What seems justifiable now can bear unintended and even eternal consequences (Heb. 12:14-17).

When you “just don’t care” remember, what you presently reject you may later regret. What we see little value in right now, may not be available later - no matter how sorry we are.

Repentance is not mere apology, being sorry for getting caught or for the trouble you’ve create, it is a change of mind that leads to personal ownership and amendment of your ways (2 Cor. 7:9-11).

Jesus gives us so many chances to genuinely repent, but also enough rope to hang ourselves. Why take the risk? God does not barter the gospel. The church can’t sell it, you can’t earn it, none of us deserve it. Don’t reject God’s gift: His grace gives us what we need not what we deserve!

There’s a growing movement in Christianity called “deconstruction”. The kind of Christianity that has been their experience is causing many tragically to reject the faith or walk away from “church”.

They’ve met too many Jacobs, seen too much partiality, experienced inauthenticity. Some just don’t care. Yet some are open spiritually but closed to “church”. They want authentic community.

Maybe they’re an Esau and find no place of repentance. Let’s pray for them before it’s too late. But maybe we’re Jacob’s who need to repent, confess our poor examples, schemes, or partiality…?

Taking The Message Home: [Find Corresponding 2-Minute Videos Here]

1. Where might favoritism be at play in your life? Write the friction that favoritism is creating and ways you might fix it. Write the consequences if it continues and talk to God about it.

2. How might your faith look more like scheming or bargaining with God instead of authentic? Write and then pray about ways you may be trading on your or other’s spiritual future.

3. What aspects of your spiritual life do you find easy to neglect but might later cause regret? Why? List what seems of little value now that might not be available when you need it later.