Start Each Day Seeking Wisdom

Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.” “Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?” But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright. Genesis 25:29-34 (NIV)

Wouldn’t life be a lot easier if we knew what the future held for us? Would we make the right choices if we knew the consequences of our choices? I often wonder. When we make a mistake, do we learn from that mistake and never make the same one again? Maybe I am a slow learner, but honestly, I have made the same mistakes over and over again! Why is this?

We don’t have to search very hard in scripture to find examples of poor choices. In Genesis 25:27-34 Esau sells his birthright to his brother Jacob for a bowl of stew. He sacrificed his future for what he wanted in the present. Each time I read this story I am shocked and amazed. But, if I am honest with myself, I often make similar decisions.

So how can we live in such a way that our choices are truly in line with what God has planned for us? I believe we have to ask for wisdom. I believe if we seek wisdom, God has promised to give us wisdom.

For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. Proverbs 2:6 (NIV)

I turned my mind to understand, to investigate and to search out wisdom and the scheme of things and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the madness of folly. Ecclesiastes 7:25 (NIV)

We must first learn to desire wisdom over foolishness. We must want to live a life that is holy and blameless before God. How do we do this? We ask God. I believe we should start each day seeking God and asking Him to give us a desire to walk very carefully and to seek Him before we make choices throughout our day. Are you willing to start your day seeking God for wisdom? I don’t think we can afford not to. When I reflect on my past, my greatest mistakes were made as a result of not seeking God and His wisdom.

Do you wonder what might have been if Easu had not sold his birthright? Well, for thousands of years we would have been praying to the God of Abraham, Issac and Esau instead of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. That was one costly bowl of stew!

My prayer is that we will seek the Author of wisdom and walk in the power of His strength to empower us to make choices that will best glorify Him. Are you willing to pray this with me?

Further Reading Genesis 25

The SipGuest UserNovember 6, 2012