responsibilities

The Birthright

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And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.  And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.  And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: and Esau said to Jacob, “Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint:” therefore was his name called Edom.  And Jacob said, “Sell me this day thy birthright.”  And Esau said, “Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?”  And Jacob said, “Swear to me this day;” and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.  Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.
Genesis 25:27-34

Within the inspired word of God, “Birthright” was what was to be given to the firstborn son within a family.  When the father and mother had departed from this life the elder son or the one who had received the birthright, received all that went with it.  He would become the head of the family, receive most of any wealth the family may have, and if his mother was still living it was his responsibility to care for her and see to it that she had all that she needed.  It was an honor, a blessing, and a great responsibility.

We see in our text for today, looking at Esau and Jacob, that Esau did not think too much of his birthright,  and Jacob (the heel catcher) knew its worth, and desired to have it; he got it.

We are told that “Esau despised his birthright” in verse 34.  When Isaac, their father had called Esau to go hunting and prepare him a meal, then he would receive the blessing as the elder son, it appears that he wanted the blessing.  However he had sold the birthright for a bowl of pottage, bread and lentils, because he felt himself near death.

Esau is used as an example of how we need not  be.  For example:we

“Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.”  Hebrews 12:16

We are also told about Esau:

By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. Hebrews 11:20

When Esau had returned to Isaac for the blessing, and found out what his brother Jacob had done He sought, with tears, for the blessing. He received a  blessing, but not the blessing of the first born. Because he had despised the birthright.

As a Christian we have a birthright given to us through the Lord Jesus Christ. We are “joint heirs” with the only begotten Son of God’ and all that is His is ours, to be received when we see  Him in glory (Romans 8:17; Galatians 3:29; Titus 3:7).

When we are born again through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ that is when become joint-heirs with Christ, and that includes the suffering with Him (Romans 8:17), and includes being glorified with Him.

Admit that you are a sinner, that you have sinned, Confess Jesus as your Lord. Believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead. You will be saved, and be an heir with Jesus Christ.

Words of the Prophets – Ezekiel

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Responsibilities: The Watchman’s and The People’s

“Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,  Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:  If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.  He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.  But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.  So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at My mouth, and warn them from Me.  When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.” Ezekiel 33:1-9 (KJV)

Christian Responsibilities

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Christian Responsibilities

Romans 13:8-14

In the last study and in verses 1 – 7 we looked at “The Christian and Government” and could have called it the “Christian’s Responsibility to Government”. We also have responsibilities to others. Those we know and to those we do not know. To those we love, and to those we should love.

The words of verse eight, “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.” are not against owing money as in a debt for a legitimate financial transaction. It has to do with keeping our debts paid, and especially the debt of love. It is what we owe to all. In loving one another we fulfill the law, and it is a debt that is never paid in full.

God’s love paid in full the debt which we owed Him. That debt of sin was paid by Jesus’s death on the cross, and the evidence of that paid debt was the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and God’s declaring by Him, our justification.

In verse nine Paul gives us five of the Ten Commandments; all having to do with human relationships. Jesus summed up the Ten Commandments into two. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength…”, and “Thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself “ (Mark 12:30-31).

Paul sums these five laws up in much the same way; “Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”

One motivation for not committing these sins would be to think about how we would feel if someone committed these sins against us. Asking ourselves the question before we sin against a neighbor: “How would I feel if this was done against me?”

Love does not seek to do harm to neighbors. It rather seeks to do good. To love one’s neighbor seeks better for them than for one’s self. This is the fulness of the law.

Not only do we as Christians have responsibilities with our neighbors, but

WE ALSO HAVE RESPONSIBILITY WITH THE TIMES IN WHICH WE LIVE.

The time which we live requires and urgency due to the nearness of the return of Jesus Christ. We are nearer to the completion of our salvation than we were at the beginning.

It is time to cast off the works and deeds of the flesh, and be clothed in the “armor of His light”

Walking honestly, that all things may be seen, as in the light;

With lives of purity, holiness, and not debauchery, rebellion and sin;

Loving one another as we have been given commandment; approving the good of brothers and sisters in Christ; and promoting them;

Putting on Christ Jesus requires and act of the heart and soul and mind; Walking in the Holy Spirit – “Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh” (Gal. 5:16).

-Tim A. Blankenship