"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 25:34)
Esau despised his birthright. He regarded it with contempt. He scorned it. He counted it as unworthy of his interest or concern. It was a sacred privilege but he had no value for it. He lost it irreversibly. Jacob on the other hand, valued it. He craved it and eventually got it, even if it was by dubious means. He demonstrated his high esteem for the birthright.
The kingdom of God has a code and it is honor and value. The level of value you place on kingdom things determine how much value they bring into your life. God speaking to Eli about his negligence to discipline his sons who were desecrating the temple of God with their immoral and corrupt acts said:
"Therefore the Lord, the God of Israel, declares: 'I promised that members of your family would minister before me forever.' But now the lord declares: 'Far be it from me! Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained." (1 Samuel 2:10). In other words, God reciprocates honor.
So one of the secrets of being valued by God is to value His things. In the kingdom, the flow of virtue to you depends on your sense of value. Whatever has lost value to you cannot release its benefit in your life. Whatever you treat with levity in the kingdom will produce light or no positive impact on your life but whatever you treat with gravity will greatly impact your life. This is the reason why Satan always wants to get you to a point where you don't value kingdom things anymore. Look at some examples:
Losing your value for prophecies and manifestations of the Spirit because you have heard and been around them a lot, will stop them from coming in your direction.
Reading the bible like just another book, but not as the sacred word of God that should be honored and trembled before will stop the flow of revelation in your life.
Becoming too familiar with your pastor or man of God, to the extent that you no longer receive him as a prophet that should be treated with honor and gravity in your life, but just as a mere person, will cost you dearly.
Treating your body which is the temple of the Holy Spirit without reverence through sexual immorality may cost you your life.
Treating your marriage vows, and your marriage partner with disdain, will stop your prayers from being answered.
Giving God leftovers of your possessions, half- hearted worship and commitment, putting his concerns second place will stop you from enjoying the favor of God.
Despising your calling, His church and instructions from Him that look foolish will cost you dearly.
This is how the kingdom works. It produces for those who value it dearly. It is for the likes of the men who broke the roof down just to get their friends to Jesus or the woman who pressed through the crowds to touch the hem of Jesus' garment or Zacchaeus who climbed the tree to see Jesus. It is for people who can pour from their alabaster box, their precious ointment, at his feet because He is valuable to them. It is the hungry and the desperate that will be filled.
God's things deserve reverence and honor. They are to be pursued and sought as treasures. When you maintain such an attitude, God will reciprocate in your directions with His mighty works.
Jesus went to his hometown but He could not do any mighty works there because they were too familiar with Him. They said:
"Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home. He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them." (Mark 6:3-5)
They knew His story and background. They knew Him as a carpenter so they didn't receive Him as a prophet.
Take some time to think today. Have you lost your sense of value for something that is of God? Are you still fascinated and awed by His works, gifts, works, words and servants. Don't let Satan steal your fascination. Don't let familiarity cloud your reverence. The things of God must be reverenced. Your honor of them determines your level of honor from Him.
Decision of the Day
I will not despise the things of God like Esau did. I will maintain my reverence and fascination with God's word, works, servants and things. I will honor God. I will treat Him and His things with gravity. I will pursue Him because He is valuable. He and His things will never become just "one of those things" around me.
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