The Mamba Mentality and Missions

February 9, 2020           NOTES NOT EDITED

The Mamba Mentality and Missions

1Corinthians 9:24-27

SIS— Our passion reveals our purpose and our purpose determines our eternal destiny.

Unless you have been spelunking in some dark cave somewhere for the last two weeks, you have heard of the death of basketball legend, Kobe Bryant. Kobe, along with his daughter and 7 others died in a helicopter crash two weeks ago. It was all over the news all over the world. Coverage has evaporated, at least for now. A memorial at the Staples Center in L.A., where the Lakers play is scheduled for February 24. Once again, Kobe Bryant will be front page news all over the world. Many idolize Kobe Bryant, and sports figures in general, to a degree that is not healthy or Biblically sound. We saw this play out as soon as the news of the crash hit the airwaves. More than a few others, seemed to demonize Bryant, especially for his very well-known moral failure that nearly sank his career a few years ago. It is the reason he changed his jersey number from 8 to 24.

I do not know the heart of Kobe Bryant and would be reluctant to speak ill of the dead. I was brought up differently in that regard. My casual research into his life indicates that while very human with all the flaws that entails, Kobe Bryant appeared to seek success, not at any cost, but with honor. I am neither seeking to idolize him or demonize him. I am using his “Mamba Mentality” this coming Sunday as a foil for discussing what “real winning, eternal winning” looks like. Kobe's philosophy of life has been trademarked as the "Mamba Mentality." His helicopter crashed on its way to a girls’ basketball game, (he coaches his daughter's team), at the Mamba Sports Academy complex in Newbury Park. That is about 10 minutes or less from where our church is located.

The Mamba Mentality can be summed up as a "passionate pursuit for excellence," or a "killer instinct for winning." A Black Mamba is one of the most feared venomous snakes in the world. Kobe Bryant was called, "The Black Mamba" because he played basketball with a killer instinct--a take no prisoners, no holds barred pursuit of basketball excellence.

Suppose every believer in every church applied the "Mamba Mentality to the Mission of their lives?" Our nation would see a revival like the world has never seen before. That’s what I want to explore this morning through our time in the Word of God.

Our text this morning teaches us that true success is more than winning. While winning is important in any contest, including the game of life, the Bible teaches that success without righteousness is not true success. The Bible gives us many lessons on how to gain success without losing our honor.  These lessons are the keys to both success in this life, and the next—that is, “real,” eternal success.  Let’s READ together our text for this morning: 1Cor. 9:24-27.

1.  Lesson One:  Run to Win (v24)

Don’t you know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize.

That’s what separates the top tier athletes, the legends, from others who take to the field or to the court.  It is the essence of the “Mamba Mentality”—a passion to win.  Growing up, I used to hear adults say, “It’s not whether you win or lose that counts, but how you play the game.”  That sounds so honorable, so “Christian.”  I think it is “so wrong.”  In fact, that is usually the speech coaches of the losing team would give.  Never knew a child playing any sport that believed this mantra.  Like most clichés, this one has a note of truth in it, but it takes more than one note to make a symphony.  Something that is partly true is totally “false.”  We will see that it is definitely true that “how one” plays the game of life is extremely important, but not the only consideration.  This is not MY opinion, but Paul’s example.  Let’s read verse 24 again:

Don’t you know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize.

Winning, that is “gaining the prize,” is Paul’s passion.  It is Paul’s objective.  Winning is highly important and highly valued.  So many Christians struggle in life because their faith is based upon “religious clichés” rather than righteous truths.  As a result of such shallow faith, the best most Christians get out of life is a “Participation Trophy.”  Most Christians just don’t “know” what the Bible teaches and their faith is shallow and ineffective.  Ignorance will make a loser out of you faster than about anything in life.  Notice the words in v24,

“Don’t you know . . .”

This is a phrase Paul uses to introduce a “rhetorical question.”  A rhetorical question does not seek an answer but draws attention to an important fact or issue.  The fact is:  winning is the reason for running in a race.  This is not merely an early morning jog to clear one’s mind.  This is a “stadium” race.  This refers to the Isthmian Games held on the Isthmus (land bridge) of Corinth the year before and the year after the Olympics.  The Isthmian Games were one of four Greek athletic competitions of the ancient world, and ranking second only to the Olympics.  The “foot race” was a leading event.  So, we are talking about an important competition not “casual exercise.”  Without the drive to win natural ability is not enough in a competition of highly skilled athletes.  In fact, the power of the will often overcomes a lesser degree of skill as has been demonstrated many times in athletics over the years.

One of the most successful coaches of all times and a legend in sports was Vince Lombardi. The NFL honored this legendary coach of the Green Bay packers by naming the Super Bowl Trophy after him—it is called, The Lombardi Trophy.  As a NFL coach he never had a losing season.  He was a proven winner.  Lombardi is often quoted as saying, “Winning isn’t everything—it’s the only thing!”  What he actually said was, “Winning isn’t everything, but the will to win is.” 

Clearly, through Paul the Holy Spirit exhorts us to develop a “will to win.”  The moment you become satisfied with life, you begin to slip down into the mire of mediocrity.  Greatness knows nothing of mediocrity.  Success knows nothing of mediocrity.  Victory knows nothing of mediocrity.  Our text instructs us that life is a race and we must be in it to “win it.”  As our text says,  only one receives the prize?

Someone has pointed out, “Dieting is the only game where you win by losing!”  Everywhere else, the prize goes to those with the “will to win.”  Do not twist Paul’s analogy of life as a race beyond that which the Holy Spirit intended.  It is not that only “one Christian” will receive the prize of God’s grace in salvation—of course it cannot mean that.  It means that we must develop a passion to offer nothing but our very best in service to the Lord—obedience is our race and giving glory to God through our lives is the prize.

Now, I said that a cliché always has a note of truth in it.  The “soccer mom motto”: it’s not whether you win or lose but how you play the game,” does offer us another Mamba Mentality Lesson.

2.  (Lesson Two):  Run With Honor (v25, 27)

Notice that after our text exhorts us to pursue the ultimate prize in every competition—winning—it offers a challenging caveat: 

²⁵ Now everyone who competes exercises self-control in everything. However, they do it to receive a crown that will fade away, but we a crown that will never fade away. 

Vince Lombardo was generally right.  Winning is important, but it is not “the only thing.”  Here our text says something more about the “prize” we win when our lives are devoted to God with a passionate focus on bringing Him glory.  It speaks of a “never fading crown.”  This is a reference to the “stephanos,” or woven wreath of olive branches that was placed upon the head of the winner.  Obviously, these “natural crowns” would ultimately fade and decay.  But they were highly valued.

Let me be quick to say that I cannot, and indeed would not even hint nor imply, that if a person devotes himself or herself fully and sacrificially to God in the game of life that one will receive “worldly rewards.”  The prosperity promised by many T.V. preachers is of things that will “fade away”—that is, the fame and fortune of this world.  This is a dangerous, and ultimately disappointing way of looking at the Christian life.  Many more Christians in history have experienced the sword of persecution than have experienced the septer of honor.  A “never fading crown” refers to eternal bliss not material blessings.

This is why it is so important to “seek victory with honor.” Honor requires “self-control.”   Self-control in this text points to sacrifice and discipline.  Verse 27, amplifies what Paul is calling for:

²⁷ Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

The language of this passage, particularly verses 25-27, paint a picture of a “boxer” in training.  The word translated, “discipline,” means, “get a black eye.”  It comes from the root word referring to the area underneath the eye, and by extension, getting a black eye.  In other words, discipline requires the willingness to embrace pain and suffering.  This “boxer” metaphor is used again in verse 26.  It takes an enormous amount of discipline and sacrifice to be a “legend” in any sport.

One of the greatest golfers in history, a legend, is Gary Player, still swinging at the age of 84.  He could hit a golf ball with both power and precision, and it seemed it did it effortlessly.  One time, a person who had just watched Gary Player in a tournament came up to him and said, “I’d give anything to be able to hit a golf ball like you.  The man was a bit surprised by Player’s response.  Player said, “No you don’t. You would want to hit a golf ball like me if it was easy. You know what it takes to hit a golf ball like me? It takes getting up at 5:00am every morning to hit 1000 balls until my hand bleeds, then I go to the club house to bandage my hand then go back and hit another 1000 balls.”

Those that play sports but lack self-control are the ones that tend to “cheat” and look for an easier way to win.  So often, this “lack of honor” from cracks in their character sideline their careers or at the least diminish the results of their careers.  Real winners win with honor that is built on self-control and discipline. 

Verse 25 gives us an interesting picture of what it means to be a legendary athlete, or an extraordinary follower of Jesus.  Paul uses the word translated, “athlete.”  The word translated “athlete” (ESV, “one who competes,” HCSB) comes from a word from which we get the English word, “agony” (agonizomenos).  The body is an athletes most important piece of equipment, regardless of the sport with the mind coming in a close second.  A winning athlete must make many hard choices and face much deprivation in their training.  The essence of winning lies in self-discipline.  An honorable person is willing to “pay the price to receive the prize.” 

Many idolize Kobe Bryant, and sports figures in general, to a degree that is not healthy or Biblically sound.  We saw this play out as soon as the news of the crash hit the airwaves.  People are even getting Kobe Bryant tattoos.  More than a few others, however, seemed to demonize Bryant. He had a very well-known moral failure that nearly sank his career.  It is the reason he changed his jersey number from 8 to 24. I do not know the heart of Kobe Bryant and would be reluctant to speak ill of the dead.  I was brought up differently.  My casual research into his life indicates that while very human with all the flaws that entails, Kobe Bryant appeared to seek success, not at any cost, but with honor.  I am neither seeking to idolize him or demonize him. I am using his “passion for winning” as a foil for discussing what “real winning, eternal winning” looks like.

My purpose in presenting these “Mamba Mentality Lessons,” especially Lesson Two, Winning with honor, is to point out that it does matter whether one plays the game of life according to the rules and decrees of God—or, whether one does not.  Success that ignores the righteous decrees of God is not “real” success.  A victory gained without honor is not a “real” victory.

At the end of verse 27 Paul refers to an athlete being “disqualified.”  This is a rare word, only appears twice in the N.T., and it means, “worthless or rejected.”  It comes from the word mean “tested, or tried.”  In other words, it refers to being rejected for “failing the test.”  Staying with the sports metaphor Paul is using, disqualified refers to “stepping out of bounds or some other penalty or infraction.” 

Winning is important as we learned right out of the gate in this study, but it is extremely important to “win with honor” or win within the rules of the game—spiritually, the dictates of God in the Bible.

Let us go back to the analogy first presented in our text to see what the Holy Spirit says through Paul in regard to “victory with honor,” or “winning in accordance with God’s righteous decrees.”  Look at the word, “prize,” in verse 24.  The original word root for the word we translate “prize,” often referred to an “umpire.”  An umpire would be someone who judged whether a contestant or athlete was competing according to the rules.  In other words, the “umpire” could invalidate the winning performance of a contestant if the umpire determined the contestant did not follow the rules.  In the case of the Scripture, God wrote the rule book and serves as the Umpire in the game of life.  God determines whether or not a person has “won with honor and gained a real victory,” or whether one is disqualified for breaking the rules.   

Scholars point out that the word translated “self-control” (v27, ESV) (CSB, “bring it under strict control) is part of a word group related to the root word meaning, “power or authority.”  This word group can refer also to lordship, as in the Lordship of Christ.  The idea of Lordship or authority reinforces the idea of an “Umpire (brabeus, v24, prize) for the Game of Life”  The implication from the idea of an “Umpire” or “Lord” is that winning with honor means victory that has been gained according to, or abiding by, the rules of righteousness outlined in the Word of God.

Winning is an important thing, but it is not everything.  We must win with honor represented by self-control, sacrifice, and the discipline to adhere to the rules.  Another Mamba Mentality Lesson for winning the race of life is that we must:

3.  Lesson Three:  Run With Purpose (vv. 26)

I’ve already touched on this a little when we discovered that the “crown that will not fade” refers to eternal rewards received for living a life devoted to the “purpose for which God created us,” which is to bring Him glory by bringing others to Christ.”

²⁶ Therefore I do not run like one who runs aimlessly or

box like one beating the air.

Paul’s life was absolutely “purpose-driven.”  Paul begins with the metaphor of running, and then switches from a running metaphor to a boxing metaphor, another popular event in the pan-hellenistic games, or the precursor to modern Olympics.  We have already mentioned the sport of boxing.  Here, we will concentrate on the mentality of making every punch count.

Let me state this clearly so that we will not miss the import of this lesson on “purpose.”  Paul’s purpose was to glorify God and the means through which he sought to do this was to “preach the good news to others.”  This was Paul’s passion.  This was Paul’s purpose.

Notice verses 19-23:  ¹⁹ Although I am a free man and not anyone’s slave, I have made myself a slave to everyone, in order to win more people. ²⁰ To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win Jews; to those under the law, like one under the law—though I myself am not under the law —to win those under the law.  ²¹ To those who are without that law,  like one without the law—not being without God’s law but within Christ’s law—to win those without the law. ²² To the weak I became weak, in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by every possible means save some.  ²³ Now I do all this because of the gospel, so I may become a partner in its benefits.

I think the logic of Christianity is as solid as the Rock of Gibraltar.  If there is a God Who created us and then sent His Only Son (Son of God, and God, the Son), that is, God Himself, came to earth to die so that all men might be saved, would it not then seem most logical that the most pleasing act God’s children can perform is to “bring others to Him through the preaching of the Word?”

Interestingly, the word for “aimless” not only means without certainty or purpose, but it can also mean “secret.”  Too many Christians are “God’s SECRET agents!”  A Christian’s purpose is the opposite of being “secret.”  It is being loud and proud!

God loves to hear us sing.  He smiles when we bow our hearts and raise our hands in worship.  His heart leaps with joy to see His children loving one another and sharing our lives together.  God loves to talk with us in prayer.  He loves to see us reading His Word and obeying His decrees.

But . . . what brings God the most glory and what causes heaven to rejoice in a heavenly chorus is when we “bring someone to God through the preaching of His Word.”  The Bible says, “the angels in heaven rejoice when a sinner comes to repentance” (Lk. 15:10).

That is the purpose driving the Apostle Paul.  That is the “prize” for which Paul was competing—the salvation of souls.  That should be our purpose also.  Nothing is more precious than a soul and more pleasing to God when we “bring a lost soul home.”

Winners are not determined at the starting line but at the finish line.  We must keep that always in the front of our mind as we run this race of life or we will likely stumble, or even quit, without ever experiencing the “victory with honor” God intends for us.  The problem is, in the long race of life, we cannot always see the “finish line,” and it is easy to get distracted or even discouraged. 

Legendary athletes, like Kobe Bryant, have a laser-focused purpose in life—to be the very best athlete they can be.  That single purpose drives them throughout their careers.  One has to have a narrow, defined purpose to be a winner at anything—and certainly to be a legend!  It is a sense of purpose that pushes an athlete through pain, that navigates him or her around mental obstacles and difficult circumstances.  Purpose is the fuel that launches the rocket of a successful career in any endeavor—including as a fully functioning follower of Jesus Christ.

I cannot tell you how many miles it will be before you cross that finish line at the portal of Glory.  I cannot tell you what obstacles, hardship, or uncertainties you may face.  I can tell you that for most of God’s children, there is precious little of material prosperity.  Some have more victories than others in this life.  What I can tell you is what God’s Word says as I sum up this message on a Mamba Mentality and Missions: 

if you run to win—that is, you give God your everything and all with the desire to please him in everything you do—and, you live your life according to the dictates of heaven and the decrees of God’s Word, regardless of whether it brings success in this life or the applause of men, and you resolve to make bringing souls to Christ the driving purpose of your life . . . then, you will experience victory with honor.

So, hears my question—hears what will separate this sermon from a nice lecture to a prophetic message—ask yourself, “Are you applying a Mamba Mentality to the Mission of God?  Are you really giving God all you have? 

Don't Sell Yourself Short

February 2, 2020                   NOTES NOT EDITED

Don’t Sell Yourself Short

Genesis 25:27-34

SIS—“Seemingly small decisions can lead to huge regrets.”

Like any person, Nick answers phone calls, types on a computer, combs his hair, shaves, brushes his teeth, pours himself a glass of water, and even plays the drums.  None of these things are particularly unique or remarkable.  Unless you consider that Nick Vujicic doesn’t have any arms or legs!  He just has what appear to be two toes that protrude from his waist.  Born with no arms and no legs, Nick stands 3 feet 2 inches tall.  He has not however, sold himself short.

He may be short on the outside, but he towers like a giant on the inside, never letting his disabilities limit his destinations.  He’s a college graduate, a world traveler, a father.  He has a beautiful wife and four children including twin girls.  He golfs, swims, and even surfs, all without limbs.  He likes to say that while he lives a life without limbs, it is also a “life without limits.”  Nick is also a very devoted believer and follower of Jesus Christ.

Nick applied a simple principle we all can apply:  focus on our blessings, not our circumstances. 

That remarkable application of understanding “counting one’s blessings” propelled Nick into a very fulfilling and successful life.  In short, Nick Vujicic never sold himself short.

Today, we are going to see someone who took a totally different approach to the circumstances of his life.  These were circumstances much less dire by a great measure than the challenges faced by Nick Vujicic.  In our story, the challenge that led Esau to sell himself short and squander his blessings, was simply being hungry at the end of a day of hunting.  He sold himself short—in fact, he sold his blessings for a simple bowl of red beans.

Our text today tells similar story in which a man sells himself short and experiences a great loss.  Let’s read together from Gen 25:27-34

²⁷ When the boys grew up, Esau became an expert hunter, an outdoorsman, but Jacob was a quiet man who stayed at home.  ²⁸ Isaac loved Esau because he had a taste for wild game, but Rebekah loved Jacob²⁹ Once when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the field exhausted. ³⁰ He said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stuff, because I’m exhausted.” That is why he was _⌊also_⌋ named Edom.³¹ Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.” ³² “Look,” said Esau, “I’m about to die, so what good is a birthright to me?” ³³ Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore to Jacob and sold his birthright to him. ³⁴ Then Jacob gave bread and lentil stew to Esau; he ate, drank, got up, and went away. So Esau despised his birthright.

The story of Esau selling his birthright provides a deep insight into why most people never experience great blessing in their life.  They sell-out to immediate gratification.  They give in to the lure of the pursuit of material possessions.  They disregard the value of a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.  They enter into a short-sale that brings an eternity of regret.

1.  What exactly did Esau Sell? (v31, 33)

³¹ Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.”

……………………………….

³³ Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore to Jacob and sold his birthright to him.

First, before I discuss the birthright, let me point out that the Bible does not address Jacob’s cunning and manipulation in this matter.  This is not to say that the Bible condones taking advantage of another.  It does not.  It is not to say that Jacob is at all pure in this matter—nor in many matters in his life.  Jacob’s actions are simply not the point of this story.  This story is about Esau’s attitude and how it affected his blessing.

It further teaches us that we, alone, are responsible for our individual choices.  We cannot hide behind blaming someone else.  We cannot get to heaven on another’s merit, nor can one be cast into hell for another’s transgression.

The birthright we are speaking about was a well-established aspect of Jewish life during this time.

Finally, the act of swearing an oath to obtain the bowl of stew means that the person agreed to be bound for all time by this transaction.  This further emphasizes the long-term negative effects of a short-term satisfaction.  There would be no turning back according to Jewish law.  It was a done deal.

Let’s examine this instance of “selling oneself, short” and see if we can gain some insight into how to avoid making the same mistake as Esau.  To gain that insight, I have four questions to ask.

2.  What did he sell it for? (v 30)

“Let me eat some of that red stuff.”

A moment of sinful pleasure can gain an eternity of hellish pain.

The contrast in this story could not be greater:  a birthright for a bowl of stew.  It begs the question:  “how could anybody sell something so special for a price so cheap?  Yet, people do this every day.

The application of this matter here is this:  when we come to a place that God offers us a choice between immediate gratification and eternal blessing, and we choose unwisely to follow the flesh, God allows us that free choice.  But, with such a choice, comes consequences—sometimes very grave consequences.

Every time we have the opportunity to say “no” to sin and “yes” to God, and we instead say “yes” to sin, then we follow in the footsteps of Esau – we make a short sale.  We sell out way too cheaply.

Reminds me of a Mother Goose Nursery Rhyme:

Pussy cat, pussy cat where have you been?

I’ve been to London to visit the Queen.

Pussy cat, pussy cat what did you there?

I frightened a little mouse under a chair.

Like this cat, and like Esau, so many people sell their lives too cheaply in the pursuit of material stuff and temporary pleasures.  We play “cat and mouse” games with our lives, not in the presence of an earthly queen, but Almighty God. We tragically undervalue the worth of a relationship with God—which is what the birthright represents in this story.  Esau sold something of immeasurable worth for something with no lasting value.

I read about A GEM DEALER who was strolling through the aisles of the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show.  There were all kinds, shapes and sizes of stones.  Most were nothing more than fancy rocks, but when polished people used them to make amateur jewelry.  As this gem dealer passed on man’s particular booth, he caught sight of a particularly large bluish stone the size and shape of a potato.  Other than it’s blue-violet shade, it was not particularly pretty and was too large to be useful in making jewelry.  The gem dealer picked up the stone, inspected it, and calmly set it down.  With no since of urgency or even much particular interest the gemologist asked after seeing the price tag, “You really want $15 for THIS?”  The seller, realizing the rock was an odd shape and size happily lowered the rock’s price to $10.  Now, I can see you are all way ahead of me.  The stone has since been certified as a 1,905 carat natural star sapphire.  That is 800 carats larger than the largest known sapphire of its kind.  The value set for this stone purchased for $10 . . . $2.28 million.

The seller did not know the great treasure he possessed and sold it for next to nothing.  Such was the case with Esau and his birthright.  He did not know the great treasure he could have in a relationship with God and sold that opportunity for a “bowl of red beans.”
 

3.  Why did he sell it for so cheap?

❶ He was IMPULSIVE. (v 32)

“I’m about to die.”

All Esau could think about was feeding his appetite.

One of the key ingredients to blessing in life is “self-control.”  Without self-control, a person’s life quickly spins out of control.  Take for example an incident that happened in West Haven, Conn., a few years ago.  Geoffry Mayne was driving through town one day and as he came to a stoplight, he felt something was wrong with one of his wheels, or perhaps his breaks.  He put the car in park and stepped out to take a quick look.  While he was inspecting his wheel, the car slipped into reverse and began to accelerate.  The steering wheel jammed and the car began to drive in circles in the intersection.  Traffic started to stack up.  On-lookers called 911 and within minutes the police and fire departments showed up.  They were puzzled as to what to do as the car sped round and round.  Unfortunately, the car had plenty of gas and was not going to stop on its own.  Two hours later they came up with a plan.  With traffic stopped in both directions, they positioned three large front-end loading tractors (the ones with the massive scoops).  On command the three large tractors moved in on the out-of-control car, smashing it to a stop.  With the car pinned, firefighters broke the driver’s side window and shut off the engine.  The intersection was once again open, but the car was demolished.

When we indulge our every appetite, whether for sex, money, or power, we become like that out-of-control car.  In the end, our lives end up demolished by those things in which we impulsively indulge ourselves for immediate gratification.

Esau was “indulgent.”  He lacked self-control.  He fed his appetite and in the end, that appetite devoured his blessing in life.

❷ He was INDIFFERENT. (32b)

“What good is a birthright to me?”

These are perhaps the most significant words in this story.  They represent an insidious attitude that has infected mankind from the days of our first parents, Adam and Eve.  They show a complete indifference to the things of God.  It will not be open rebellion that causes most people in the world to find hell to be their eternal abode.  It will be indifference. 

It’s not that most people “hate” God (though some do), but most people simply ignore him.  And even those in church treat the things of God with disrespectful indifference.  You might call this attitude, “Ho Humness.”  So many people will attend church today and leave with a  “ho hum attitude” yawning their way to lunch.

Esau demonstrated and absolute indifference to the birthright provided to him by the Law God had given to Esau’s people.

❸ He was IRREVERENT.

Notice that indulgence and indifference ultimately lead to outright irreverence.  Verse 34 says,

“So, Esau despised his birthright.”

The paths of indulgence and indifference will always converge and lead to the valley of irreverence.  This happened to Adam and Eve in the Garden, and it happened to Esau in our text here. 

The Hebrew word translated, “despised,” is used many times in the O.T.  It means to “treat as worthless, or even with vile contempt.” This type of despicable attitude is condemned in harsh terms in the O.T.  The prophet, Malachi, addresses this attitude of contempt and irreverence that had by his time become epidemic in Israel:

1:6 “A son honors _⌊his_⌋ father, and a servant his master. But if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is _⌊your_⌋ fear of Me?  says Yahweh of Hosts to you priests, who despise My name.”Yet you ask: “How have we despised Your name?”⁷ “By presenting defiled food on My altar.”You ask: “How have we defiled You?”When you say: “The Lord’s table is contemptible.”

⁸ “When you present a blind _⌊animal_⌋ for sacrifice, is it not wrong? And when you present a lame or sick _⌊animal_⌋, is it not wrong?

………………

¹² But you are profaning it  when you say: “The Lord’s table is defiled, and its product, its food, is contemptible.” . . . . . . . .

¹⁴ “The deceiver is cursed who has an _⌊acceptable_⌋ male in his flock and makes a vow but sacrifices a defective _⌊animal_⌋ to the Lord.  For I am a great King,” says Yahweh of Hosts, “and My name  will be feared among the nations.  THEN CHPT 2 “Therefore, this decree  is for you priests: ² If you don’t listen, and if you don’t take it to heart  to honor My name,” says Yahweh of Hosts, “I will send a curse among you, and I will curse your blessings.

Esau’s indulgence and indifference rotted away his soul until he was openly irreverent to the Lord.  Irreverence displays itself as a contemptuous attitude toward the Lord and His ways.  Without reverence for God, a curse falls upon a person’s life and any hope of blessing evaporates like a snowflake in hot sunlight.

This story shows that Esau was extremely deficient in his character which prompted him to sell something of infinite worth for a “bowl of stew.”  When one reads the story, one cannot help but ask, “How could he sell something so valuable for such a cheap price?” 

And yet, people do this every day.  Every day—this day included—hundreds of thousands will die and fall into an eternity without God because of an indulgent, indifferent, and finally irreverent attitude toward the things of God.

4.  What did Esau Really Lose? (Heb. 12:16-17)

The Scripture says, “He sold his soul.”

¹⁶ And make sure that there isn’t any immoral or irreverent  person like Esau, who sold his birthright in exchange for one meal.  ¹⁷ For you know that later, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected because he didn’t find any opportunity for repentance, though he sought it with tears.

If not for this verse, the story might have ended with Esau losing a double portion of his father’s estate and the authority that went along with the birthright of the first-born.  But, Hebrews suggests very strongly that much more was lost in this transaction.

Esau, lost the “the opportunity for repentance.”  About 40 years later Esau would beg his dying father, Isaac, to give him a blessing.  Genesis 27 tells us the story.  Many years had passed and apparently Isaac did not know of Jacob’s earlier purchase of the birthright and was going bless Esau, the older son.  Yet, Jacob and his mother, Rebekah, concocted a scheme to secure the blessing for Jacob.  The fact remained:  Esau had sealed the deal many years earlier by swearing an oath, and the deal could not be changed, and in fact, did not change.  Jacob received the blessing.

Genesis 27:34 says,

³⁴ When Esau heard his father’s words, he cried out with a loud and bitter cry and said to his father, “Bless me too, my father!”

This same scene will be repeated in the last days of judgment. We see the wise and unwise virgins—those who had acted properly toward the Bridegroom, who is Christ, and those, like Esau, who have acted unwisely.  The Word says (Mat. 25:10-12),

Then those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut.¹¹ “Later the rest of the virgins also came and said, ‘Master, master, open up for us!’¹² “But he replied, ‘I assure you: I do not know you!’

This is just like the foolish men and women in Noah’s day ignored God’s warning of a coming judgment while Noah and his family faithfully worked on the ark for many years.  God closed and sealed the door of the ark and no matter how much those outside banged, and cried, and wailed for mercy, the “door was shut!”

What did Esau really sell?  He sold his soul.  He sold his opportunity to repent and establish an eternity long relationship with God.  Instead, Esau became hardened and to this day the “Edomites,” or “Muslims” are the sworn enemies of the Israelites, or descendents of Jacob.

What a tragic story.  The story of a “short sale.”  The story of a man who gave up a place in eternal bliss for a bowl of red-bean stew.  Can you think of any story more tragic?

We live in a world where “anything and everything is for sale.”  Like, selling a haunted painting for example.  This painting just sold for $1025 on Ebay.  Apparently, the children depicted in the painting would exit the painting and fight during the night.  The sale required a signed waiver from the buyer that said in part, “By bidding you agree . . . to hold the owners harmless in regard to [the painting] and [its] impact, expressed or replied.” So far, I’ve not seen any published reports on how the new owners are dealing with the unruly children in the painting.

In May of 2006 a person from Australia tried to sell the country New Zealand on Ebay.  The bid had reached $3000 before it was taken down due to a violation of eBay's policy.  eBay prohibits the sale of a  a country without the consent of its' people.

Yes, we live in a world where anything and everything is “for sale” 24/7.  Sadly, too often we put ourselves, our dreams, and our potential up for sale—and tragically, we sell ourselves short.  We sell our eternal rewards for worldly trinkets.  When we are driven by worldly passions and temporary circumstances we sell ourselves short at a great loss, both now and in eternity.

There is one thing we should never sell—for any price—and that is our birthright to be a fully functioning follower of Jesus Christ.  Our integrity; our devotion; our soul, our purpose in life should never be for sale at any price—NEVER!  Are you one of those people who are selling yourself short and heading for a lifetime of regret? 

If you need food and cannot get it, you may go hungry.  But, in the time of judgment when you will need salvation and do not have it, you will go to hell.

A little discomfort now in light of a great reward in eternity is a very small price to pay for living a life of full devotion to God.

Don’t sell yourself short.