The Bible has many nice contrasts in it.
When Esau was starving, he gave up his birthright – land, servants, influence – for a bowl of lentils.
When Jesus was starving, not even Satan could tempt Him with food.
It’s so easy to point and laugh at Esau, as if you’ve never been starving yourself.
Starving for love.
Or recognition.
Or respect.
That’s assuming you’re not starving for money or power.
You might even hunger for the Holy Spirit – a wise thing to pursue, but be careful. Desperation makes you foolish. Everyone knows that, whether you’re in a negotiation or on a date.
Admit it – you’re hungry right now.
Just maybe not for food.
The lesson from Esau’s story is to be wiser and stronger in the face of temptation.
It’s also to keep yourself from getting that desperate.
Put God first, yes, but be sure to attend to your material needs. If Esau had eaten before visiting Jacob, he wouldn’t have made such a foolish mistake.
You’re not just a being of spirit.
And not every earthly desire is bad in itself. Food keeps you strong and healthy, allowing you to serve better. Even something as corrupting as power isn’t bad in itself – we call Jesus “the King of Kings”, so kingship can be virtuous.
The key to a Good life is to satisfy your hunger without tarnishing your soul.
I can’t pretend that I’ve mastered this. I have a ways to go still.
But if this is something you struggle with, I can help you out with that.
Here’s your next step: