Most of us are familiar with the story of Esau selling his birthright. In Esau we find a contempt for godly or spiritual realities. That is what we have to learn from his despising his birthright (Genesis 25:34). He gave up his birthright which included great spiritual blessings for some stew and bread. Do we also do the same thing? Do we give up spiritual things to get some earthly need of the moment satisfied?
So how do we despise our birthright? To understand that we have to know what is our birthright. When we believe in the name of Jesus, God gives us the right to become children of God (John 1:12) and it is a great privilege (1 John 3:1). Because of this God sends His Spirit to live within us. This is the Spirit of sonship by which God enables us to call Him, “Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15, 16; Galatians 4:6). Now, Abba is a term in Aramaic (the language Jesus spoke) which is an expression of intimacy, something like, “Dearest Daddy.”
To call God, “Abba, Father,” is the freedom that God has given all those who are washed and cleansed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. So as God’s child it is your freedom to enter God’s Presence and His throne of grace with freedom and confidence (Hebrews 4:16, Ephesians 3:12). This is your birthright and you can approach God because there is no fear in love (1 John 4:18).
Sadly, many do not understand this truth. In prayer, they are reluctant to enjoy the intimacy of a Father-child relationship with God. Instead, they give this privilege to others requesting them to pray for them-mostly for meeting their physical needs. Now there is nothing wrong with it. But the question is whether a child would directly ask his or her father for her needs or ask a total stranger in the street to come and ask his/her father on his/her behalf? When you, for earthly needs, continuously depend on others to pray for you, you are selling your birthright; isn’t it?
Of course, there are times when we are weak. For example, in times of sickness, sorrow, some unexpected difficulties that arise as emergencies; on all these occasions it is good to ask others to pray for you. But on a daily basis God waits to hear you come to Him as a child calling Him, “Abba.” And that is one goal of prayer. To develop intimacy between you and your Heavenly Father.
In the light of this, is it any wonder that Jesus taught us to pray, starting “Our Father in heaven” (Matthew 6:9). Dear child of God, do not despise your birthright.