Birthright

Recently I sensed the Lord was speaking to me about the word ‘birthright’, so I started to think about what it means and what the Lord might want to say to me about it. The dictionary definition is ‘the right or privilege to which one is entitled by birth’, and in Scripture it usually refers specifically to the rights of a firstborn.

Because of the Fall, every single one of us is born into an inheritance of sin and death, but when we believe in Jesus and receive Him as our Saviour, we are born again into a new inheritance, which, as today’s verse tells us, ‘can never perish, spoil or fade’ (1 Peter 1:4). We are adopted into God’s family (Ephesians 1:5), receiving the full rights of sons (Galatians 4:5), becoming ‘heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ’ (Romans 8:17). We have an amazing birthright through our new birth and adoption into God’s family! But do we value it and live in the benefit of it?

Esau was the firstborn son, having emerged from his mother’s womb before his twin brother, Jacob. He was therefore his father’s heir, but we are told in Genesis 25 that he despised his birthright. He came in from the fields one day when his brother was preparing some lentil stew. He was very hungry, and at that moment all he could think about was his physical need. Jacob took advantage of this, and demanded Esau’s birthright in exchange for the food. Esau readily agreed. He did not value his birthright, and was prepared to squander it for a temporary fix. He gave it away cheaply.

I wonder how often we undervalue the amazing inheritance we have as sons and daughters of the King of kings, and fail to live in the full benefit of it. In the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15, the older son had not squandered his inheritance like the younger son, but he had obviously not been living in full appreciation of all that he had. When his brother returned and there was a party to celebrate, he refused to join in, likening himself to a slave in his father’s household rather than a son. The father came to plead with him to come in, using the words: “My son … everything I have is yours” (Luke 15:31).

Perhaps our Heavenly Father is wanting to say the same to each of us, and to encourage us to enter in more fully to all the benefits of our inheritance. We have an amazing birthright, because of our adoption and new birth! Let’s value it and live in the fullness of it.