The Affects of “Instant Gratification”

Genesis 25:27-34

27 When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents. 28 Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob. 29 Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted. 30 And Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!” (Therefore his name was called Edom.) 31 Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright now.” 32 Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” 33 Jacob said, “Swear to me now.” So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

I count myself as a visionary leader. I am a futurist when it comes to leading this wonderful group of people God has blessed me with. The issue I try to keep in front of me in regards to the vision is the idea that it needs to happen “Instantaneously.” Leading people needs to be looked at not like a microwave but as a crock-pot. Looking for instant gratification can cause leaders to miss the journey. Sometimes the journey is where we learn the most.
This passage of scripture reveals a story of two brothers. It is a great example of the damage that can come from living life with an “instant gratification” mind-set. Esau was the older of the two brothers and was considered the great hunter. Jacob, on the other hand, was more of the home body type. This story reveals an incident were Jacob, who longed for Esau’s birthright, was cooking the meal of the day. Esau had been out all day hunting and came back starving for food. Jacob took advantage of them moment and told Esau he would give him his favorite stew (Red Stew) in exchange for the birthright of the oldest son. Seeking instant gratification, Esau, reacting on hunger, agreed and from that point on he was no longer credited the birthright of the oldest son.
From the story of Esau and Jacob we can learn some valuable lessons when it comes to seeking instant gratification.

1. Instant gratification can lead to “BAD DECISION MAKING.”

I had a wonderful friend tell me once that if he had to make a quick decision his answer was always “no.” He figured it was easier to change a “no” to a “yes” than a yes to a no. In this passage we read how Esau made a quick decision based on wanting to appease his hunger. I wonder if after he ate the Red Stew he had regrets for giving away his birthright. I wonder if he thought he had just made a bad decision.

2. Instant gratification can cause “TUNNEL VISION.”
We see how Esau was living in the “NOW” and not able to see the future. The birthright allowed the first born a double portion of the paternal inheritance. One would think this would be something that Esau would have envisioned for his life. Instead, Esau could not see past the hunger pains. He had tunnel vision!

3. Instant gratification can cause “VICTIMIZATION.”
Jacob may not have been considered a great hunter but he definitely knew his prey (Esau). We read how Jacob took advantage of Esau by preparing his favorite meal. Jacob knew Esau would not resist Red Stew and especially when he was hungry. We can see how Esau became a victim due to his craving for instant gratification.

From these three points we as leaders can learn from Esau’s mistakes.
• Make GOOD DECISION.
• Look at the BIG PICTURE.
• Don’t be a VICTIM.
How do we do this? Don’t desire and expect “INSTANT GRATIFICATION.” In today’s world we may not lose our birthrights, but we could lose a lot more. Bad decision, tunnel vision, and being a victim can cause souls to be lost for the Kingdom.

God Bless
Pastor Rod

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LEARN BY EXAMPLE 2 Kings 22:1-13

22:1 Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath. 2 And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and walked in all the way of David his father, and he did not turn aside to the right or to the left. 3 In the eighteenth year of King Josiah, the king sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, son of Meshullam, the secretary, to the house of the Lord, saying, 4 “Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may count the money that has been brought into the house of the Lord, which the keepers of the threshold have collected from the people. 5 And let it be given into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the house of the Lord, and let them give it to the workmen who are at the house of the Lord, repairing the house 6 (that is, to the carpenters, and to the builders, and to the masons), and let them use it for buying timber and quarried stone to repair the house. 7 But no accounting shall be asked from them for the money that is delivered into their hand, for they deal honestly.” 8 And Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it. 9 And Shaphan the secretary came to the king, and reported to the king, “Your servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house and have delivered it into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the house of the Lord.” 10 Then Shaphan the secretary told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it before the king. 11 When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes. 12 And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Micaiah, and Shaphan the secretary, and Asaiah the king’s servant, saying, 13 “Go, inquire of the Lord for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.”

I remember one cold winter morning back in 1993 as I sat looking at my daughter, who was one year old, while she was asleep next to me. I could not imagine anything more beautiful. I was so proud and so excited to have her in my life. It was during this time that God started to speak to me about the person I was.

I recall a very specific conversation I had with God as he spoke to my heart that morning. I was thinking to myself, what kind of person would she grow up to be like? The question came to mind that changed my life forever, “What kind a man would she marry?” As if God had spoken audibly to me, I recall Him saying, “She will marry a man just like you.” Tears swelled up in my eyes as I remember saying out loud, “I will kill him!” You see I was not the example that I wanted my daughter to marry. So I decided at that moment that I was going to change. I was going to become the kind of man that I would be honored to give her hand in marriage to. I was going to become the role model she needed in her life.

In this passage of scripture you have a young King who has learned how to run a kingdom by role models in his life. Some of these role models in his life were good, positive example and then there were some bad, negative examples. I believe we can learn from both, the good and the bad, the positive and the negative. I would like to point out some of these examples and hopefully we can learn from them as well.

BAD EXAMPLE – King Josiah had a father, Amon, who was considered one of the vilest kings of that time. Josiah walked away from his father’s heritage and became involved in pagan worship.

Josiah did the exact opposite of his father and followed, to the best of his abilities, the example set by Kind David. Josiah knew his leadership and life was the example needed in order to lead the people the way God would want his people to follow.

GOOD EXAMPLE – Not only was King David a wonderful example to follow, Josiah understood the need for advisors. He surrounded himself with people who had his best interest at heart. This can be seen by Shaphan, the secretary. His position could be the same in today’s world as the secretary of state.

THE BEST EXAMPLE – What was so revolutionary to those involved in this story is the finding of “The Law.” They had opened it up and realize they had swayed from God and they didn’t even know it. The bible is the best example for all of us to use as we travel down life’s pathway.

What three things did we learn: 1. Don’t repeat others mistakes. 2. Learn from the Godly people in your life. 3. Keep the bible (Vision) near you at all times.

God Bless

Pastor Rod