"Esau, who for a morsal of meat sold his birthright...Hebrews 12:16
Esau was a man with a lack of discipline, a man who recognised no authority other than his own. This is a basic mark of the unregenerate life.
Paul described the Ephesians before their conversion as those who fulfilled the desires of the flesh and of the mind. That is to say, the basic principle upon which they lived, was that they did what they wanted. That is the mark of the worldly man: he does what he wants. It is not the mark of the Christian, who says "Lord what wilt thou have me to do?"
Here was a man who lived a life of utter self-pleasing. I think this is probably the root of the problem in the life of the Church today. Isnt it true that the vast majority of Christians in our churches are simply living on this principle. They are pleasing themselves. They please themselves whether they go to church once or twice on Sunday. They please themselves whether they go to the prayer meeting or not. They please themselves whether they read their bible or not. They please themselves concerning the stewardship of their money. They are exactly like Esau. He did exactly what he wanted: and we are doing the same.
You remember how different our Lord was in His attitude. "My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me" That was a characteristic recognised by others with any sense of discernment. You remember how the centurion said, "I am also a man under authority...." He recognised that our Lord was living under authority. That is something that is required in us by the Master. "He that harh my commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me."
Esau was a man with a lack of discipline, a man who recognised no authority other than his own. This is a basic mark of the unregenerate life.
Paul described the Ephesians before their conversion as those who fulfilled the desires of the flesh and of the mind. That is to say, the basic principle upon which they lived, was that they did what they wanted. That is the mark of the worldly man: he does what he wants. It is not the mark of the Christian, who says "Lord what wilt thou have me to do?"
Here was a man who lived a life of utter self-pleasing. I think this is probably the root of the problem in the life of the Church today. Isnt it true that the vast majority of Christians in our churches are simply living on this principle. They are pleasing themselves. They please themselves whether they go to church once or twice on Sunday. They please themselves whether they go to the prayer meeting or not. They please themselves whether they read their bible or not. They please themselves concerning the stewardship of their money. They are exactly like Esau. He did exactly what he wanted: and we are doing the same.
You remember how different our Lord was in His attitude. "My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me" That was a characteristic recognised by others with any sense of discernment. You remember how the centurion said, "I am also a man under authority...." He recognised that our Lord was living under authority. That is something that is required in us by the Master. "He that harh my commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me."
