Is it worth it?

Hi everybody! I’m excited to talk to you all about a question that I should have asked myself a long time ago. Today, I will be talking from a place that I have struggled with, but mercifully God has brought me out of!

Now the question I pose to you today is, “Is it worth it?”

Lately, I’ve been reading the book of Genesis, so I suggest that you go and read it! There are so many practical applications to our own situations that can help us if we go back and read!

The particular story I will be addressing today is the story between two brothers named Jacob and Esau. I’m not sure if you all are familiar with the story about Jacob and Esau, but I will lay the foundation before I go into what I will later address.

In Genesis 26, there was a man named Isaac who had two sons named Jacob and Esau. As Isaac realized that he was becoming old, he decided to pass on his blessing to his older son, Esau. Isaac’s wife, Rebekah overheard Isaac telling Esau that He would pass on his blessing, if Esau would go out into the fields, kill his favorite game, and prepare his favorite dish. Rebekah informed Jacob on what Isaac was planning and persuaded Jacob to prepare the dish to receive his father’s blessing.

Now, I’m sure you are all asking, “Why would Jacob do that to his brother?”

In Genesis 25:29-33, Jacob was cooking some stew and Esau desperately wanted some! Jacob asked him this question, which I will expound on. Jacob asked Esau, “Will you sell your birthright to me, if I give you some stew?” Esau, out of hunger and desperation said, “Look, I’m dying of starvation! What good is my birthright to me now?” In the next couple of verses, you will see that Esau swore to Jacob that he would sell his birthright, because he wanted the stew.

Esau made a permanent decision based on a temporary feeling…hunger.

We may not have sold our birthright, but we have given away parts of ourselves for fear that we may never experience something. We tend to make rash decisions that have permanent repercussions.

Often times, we get into relationships with people because we believe and fear that we will never be with anybody. We may sell ourselves by settling into a job that we know God never told us to go to, but the money is good! We can also sell ourselves to conform in an environment of people who temporarily like us. We unconsciously or consciously give ourselves away because we think, “God is taking toooooo long! I need to move, because nothing is happening where I am!”

I’ve been guilty of selling myself in different areas of my life and have allowed degradation and rejection to rule me! I believed that if I acted a certain way or did certain things, others would want me or like me.

I am here to ask you the question, “Is it worth it?”

1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV) is one of my favorite verses and it says, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”

This verse is so powerful because even when we are presented with opportunities to sell ourselves short, God has given us the power to ask ourselves the question, “Is it worth it?” Am I worth a, “COME THROUGH” text? Am I worth being treated harshly? Am I worth not being valued? Am I worth not having a better job? Am I worth not reaching my full potential? Am I worth settling for less than the best?

I am here to tell you that, YOU ARE WORTH MORE THAN THAT! God has so much more for you, but you must FIND HIM in order to know that everything you need is FOUND in HIM! He loves you! I mean really loves you! We were never meant to sell ourselves short for temporary people, pleasures, and possessions that will eventually fade away. We were never promised tomorrow, so why not live for something of eternal value! What God has for us is worth more than what we have been settling for!

I am praying that in this season, we will allow Jesus’ death on that cross to remind us how much we are worth to Him. He didn’t die for worthless things, instead He gave us His power to rule and live as Kings and Queens on earth for His glory. So the next time, you are tempted to sell yourself short, remember Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and ask yourself, “Is it WORTH it?”

Love you all!