Sometimes when we sell our souls…
TobyMac – Lose my Soul
When I consider some of the less than intelligent things that I have done in my life, I am often reminded of the example that as men, we set for our family. What kind of message are we sending our children? We don’t want serious character flaws in our kid’s lives, yet we get upset with them when they are only portraying some of the flaws that we have. Sometimes we as fathers are put to the test, some of us think we are great Dads and try hard for our kids, but it is always the little things in our everyday life that let us down. For example, it is how we react under pressure and stress, how we react behind peoples backs, how we react when your youngest child wants to play a game with you.
An example of reacting under stress from scripture is the story of Esau and Jacob. Esau lived for today and didn’t think too much about the future. Jacob was cunning and wanted what Esau had. We pick up the story when Esau comes home from the fields, he asks his twin brother for some of the stew that he was cooking, in response to Esau, Jacob replied, “All right, but trade me your birthright for it.” “Look, I’m dying of starvation!” said Esau. “What good is my birthright to me now?” So Jacob insisted, “Well then, swear to me right now that it is mine.” So Esau swore an oath, thereby selling all his rights as the firstborn to his younger brother. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and lentil stew. Esau ate and drank and went on about his business, indifferent to the fact that he had given up his birthright.
Esau reacted to the stress of tiredness and hunger by selling his birthright, wanting something right now and not considering the future. Many men know the precise moment that they made a decision to react a certain way, to do something or watch something, while under pressure and like Esau, that decision has enslaved them.
It is a timely reminder that we as men have to be careful, that we don’t sell our souls for the things of this world, there are many, many things at work – pornography, sex, gambling, substance abuse, violence to name a but a few. It is when we think only about ourselves, and only for today that we start to walk down a path that was not intended for us. You might say – “ I’m a good person, I don’t do any of that stuff and I would never be like Esau and sell my soul for a bowl of food!”. However, I put this challenge to you, if you were to look at your life honestly, are you fully following the Lord? Is He the centre of your life all the time, or do you occasionally get caught up with the things of this world, like money, lust, power, ambition, greed etc.
Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do. Avoid all perverse talk; stay far from corrupt speech. Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; then stick to the path and stay safe. Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil. Proverbs 4:23 – 27 (NLT)
Usually it’s not the most obvious things that let us down, more than likely it’s the small things. It’s the couple of grains of sand that grind away in the inside of your shoe that won’t cause you to stop but will rub the skin raw – pebbles in your shoes are more obvious and much easier to remove! So where does that leave us as men? We need to be more aware of the subtlety of sin and how easy it is to assimilate destructive habits that will be reflected in our family’s lives.
Here are a few potential “grains of sand” for consideration:
• How do you treat your wife and how do you show her your love and respect?
• How do you treat others when you are with them and what do you say behind their backs?
• How do you spend time with your children and how do you show them your love and support?
• How much you are in debt, how much does materialism motivate you?
• How you treat your father and father in law / parents?
• How much time you spend alone with God?
So how do you ensure you don’t get bogged down and trapped by the lies of the world? The only way I know is to stay close to the Lord every day and ask Him for His help, reading His Word, prayer, praise, accountability and fellowship. As for me, I have fallen into a few well laid traps and realise that I am far from perfect. Now I am more aware of them, I am able to be more discerning and avoid those areas of weakness. Although in saying that, there are still some things that I struggle with, however the gentle redeeming spirit of the Lord reminds me that I cannot do it by myself, it is only through Christ I am able to be victorious. As the Lord said to Paul, “My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT). The key is – to be aware of your weaknesses, your shortcomings and to allow God to have total control over your life. For your own sake and for your family’s sake, don’t let the small things slide. God purchased you at a high price. Don’t be enslaved by the world.
(Esau selling his soul 1620 - Hendrick ter Brugghen 1588-1629)
For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. He paid for you with the precious lifeblood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. 1 Peter 1:18 – 19
What do you think?
