Sold To The Lowest Bidder

 The construction business fascinates me.  From a single idea comes an architectural rendering of what a certain building will look like.  From this drawing, blueprints are created, giving precise directions to the contractor and the construction company on how to build and assemble all of the various components that go into the structure.  Once a suitable set of plans is made, the project is let out for bids, giving several companies the opportunity to secure the project and build the building.  The rules are very simple; the one who can complete the structure for the least amount of money wins the bid.  In other words, the lowest bidder gets the job! 

If you stop and think about this for a minute, the ramifications can be a little disturbing.  Each time you go up in a plane, you place your life into the hands of the lowest bidder for airplane rivets!  Whenever you climb behind the wheel of a car, you place your hands into the lowest bidder for automobile parts!   Each time a skydiver jumps from an airplane, he places his life in the hands of the lowest bidder for thread and material.  It is quite frightening when you consider just how much faith we place in low bids.  Everything around us was manufactured, built, and guaranteed by the lowest bidder in his field.  I don’t know about you, but it makes me just a little uncomfortable to think about this prospect. 

 

Now, please don’t misunderstand me.  I’m not suggesting we rush out and pay exorbitant prices for everything we purchase.  However, we don’t need to sacrifice quality; and if a quality product costs a little more, then I’m more than willing to pay the additional price.  However, sometimes we do sacrifice quality when our sole purpose is saving a few pennies.   When we become so enthralled with saving a penny or two, we tend to neglect the more important aspects of the purchase.  We don’t think ahead to the ramifications of our decisions, and we sacrifice the future for what is expedient at the time.  In other words, we only see the immediate benefits and neglect to consider the long-range consequences of our split-second decisions. 

 

The story of Jacob and Esau in the Old Testament book of Genesis aptly demonstrates the consequences of making rash choices.  Esau, the older of the two brothers, was the heir-apparent of his father Jacob.  As the first-born, he was in line to receive all the wealth and prosperity of his father as well as his father’s blessing.  The role of the first-born son was extremely important, and this responsibility was not to be taken lightly.  Unfortunately, Esau didn’t quite grasp the important and weighty possession that was his by birthright. 

 

Genesis 25:31-34 records a very short but brief auction between to brothers.  At stake, is the birthright, the means by which Jacob’s blessing and possessions would be passed on to his heir.  It is a definite case of selling out to the lowest bidder.  Jacob said, "First sell me your birthright." Esau said, "I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?" Jacob said, "Swear to me first." So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils, and he ate and drank, and rose and went his way. Thus, Esau despised his birthright. 

 

There are a few things we need to understand about this small exchange between Esau and Jacob.  First, Esau was a hunter and a man of the fields.  He had been out in the open fields working and he was hungry.  Jacob stayed at home, overseeing domestic tasks.  He had prepared a meal of lentil stew and was ready to serve it out.  This is already a lethal combination for Esau.  He is tired, he is hungry, and he is in no mood for trite conversation.  Jacob is aware of this and takes full advantage of his brother’s weakness. Notice that Jacob refuses to feed his brother until Esau agrees to sell him the birthright. 

 

Esau sees only one thing, the stew.  His focus has shifted from thinking about the future to concentrating on the immediate gratification of his hunger.  He only sees what is right before him and is not concerned about the importance of his status.  He agrees to Jacob’s terms, saying that the birthright will be of no use to him if he dies from starvation.  Jacob was in no danger of starving to death, but because his immediate desire was so strong, it obscured his future responsibility and opportunity as the oldest son.  The last line of the passage is the most damaging to Esau, “thus, Esau despised his birthright.” 

 

Most of us are familiar with this story and we are particularly hard on Esau when we study it.  “He should have known better!” we say, or “What an irresponsible and foolish thing to do!” Yet, we commit Esau’s error on a daily basis.  How often do we sell out our witness for God because someone in our office isn’t comfortable with Christians?  How many times do we sell out our relationship with God by refusing to spend time with him, opting instead for activities that are more “pressing” or “important”? 

  

The truth is, we sell ourselves very frequently to the lowest bidder, neglecting the important and lasting relationship we have with God in order to have our immediate wants satisfied.  We need to spend more time considering our position as God’s children, heirs to all his promises as well as his resources.  When it was necessary to pay the price for man’s salvation, God was not the lowest bidder!  Why then do we, on a consistent basis, sacrifice the quality of our relationship with him for a few moments of bliss?