Do you know your birthright? Are you guarding it with your life? According to the Old Testament a birthright usually belonged to the oldest son or one sovereignly chosen by the Lord. The birthright included the inheritance of the father's wealth, prestige and special grace. Though in the Old Testament this honor was bestowed upon one child, usually the oldest, in the New Testament we all have the opportunity to inherit great wealth, prestige and grace from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As special as this birthright is, it could be lost. John 10:10a states: "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy."
I strongly believe that he is after the birthright of those who have made Jesus Christ their Lord and Savior and are actively involved in the work of the Great Commission. This birthright is tied to God's overall plan for our lives; to our life mission or the calling that God has for us.
If the devil can keep you from fulfilling your life mission he will keep you from inheriting the wealth, prestige and grace that God has prepared for you. This is especially true for those of us called into the marketplace. We are currently facing very difficult economic times and as a result many have forsaken their calling for security and safety. They believe the lie that the only way to preserve what they have acquired is to play it safe and stop or slow down their pursuit of purpose. This is a lie from the pit of hell and it is a sure way to lose what you have gained and compromise the mission you were given.
How can I protect my birthright at all cost?
1. Do not trade it for anything no matter how desperate you are
2. Obey every instruction that God gives you whether big or small no matter the cost
3. Maintain a righteous lifestyle and give no place to the enemy
During these difficult times we can be tempted as Esau was to trade our birthright for temporary provision whether it be job security, meeting cash flow or increasing our income. Do not yield to temptation and remember the price that Esau paid. He traded the inheritance of the Abrahamic covenant to satisfy his stomach. What is tempting you right now? No matter how tempted you are remember that "man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God."
If the devil cannot get us to trade our birthright for something else less valuable, then he will try to cause us to disobey God in the little things. Do not be like King Saul who lost the birthright of his son Jonathan by not fully obeying God's instructions. It is true that there is the temptation of partially obeying God because full obedience seems dangerous and scary. Often God gives us instructions without revealing to us the complete picture or outcome. Remember partial obedience is disobedience. What instructions has God given you? Obey them in full and trust God for the complete outcome.
Finally if he cannot get us to disobey God's instruction then the devil will tempt us to sin. Remember Reuben who committed an unrighteous act with his father's concubine and as a result lost his birthright as the eldest' son. Guard yourself against the pride of life, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eye. The devil will use one of those three methods to cause you to sin and lose your birthright. No matter how tempting the situation or proposition, it is not worth it. It will provide you a temporary high but a permanent and devastating side effect.
Like you, my journey as a Biblical Entrepreneur has not been easy. There have been ups and downs. The temptation of giving up or compromising and selling off the birthright is always present. Esau's statement, "Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me", is not foreign to those of us who are operating in the marketplace as kingdom business people. We should never give into that inner fear that causes us to think if we do not trade off our birthright we will die. Remember, you can make a choice but you cannot choose the consequences. Esau made a choice and he lived to regret it. What choice are you going to make?
Copyright © 2009 Patrice Tsague ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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