Sometimes we “sell out” by trading something great and lasting for something cheap and temporary. The Bible has a lot to say about this. One of the first stories teaching us not to sell out is in Genesis 25:27-34. It is the story of two brothers: Jacob and Esau.
Video Highlights:
- Esau was an outdoorsmen. He was the firstborn son of Isaac which meant he would get the bigger inheritance of the family fortune when Isaac died.
- Jacob was Isaac’s second son. He wanted to steal Esau’s inheritance for himself, so he came up with a plan to trick Esau into trading away his “great and lasting” inheritance for a “cheap and temporary” bowl of soup!
- Like Esau, we too can be tempted to trade away long-lasting things like good grades and scholarships for temporary things like staying up late all the time or playing too many video games.
- We might also be tempted to sell out so we can fit in with others. We might leave behind friends who help us pursue God to hang out with other, more popular people who aren’t helping us pursue God and whose friendship won’t last.
- We could sell out our bodies for momentary pleasure or to get our boyfriend or girlfriend to like us more. This could lead to contracting sexually-transmitted diseases or an unwanted pregnancy. God’s word teaches us to save sex for marriage.
- Selling out is like taking a small amount of money today instead of waiting to get a huge amount of money later. God is offering us huge blessings if we will wait on Him and follow His leading in our lives through His word, the Bible.
Discussion Questions:
- Watch the video together or invite someone to summarize the topic.
- What is your initial reaction to this video? Do you disagree with any of it? What jumped out at you?
- Have your or has someone you know ever “sold out?” What happened?
- What do you think is wiser: to get 25,000 dollars right now, or to get a million dollars five years from now? Explain.
- Why do you think God’s word teaches us that we should wait on His best for us rather than “sell out” for immediate fun or gain?
- In Matthew 6:19-21, Jesus says that we should store up treasures in heaven, not on earth. Why do you think He teaches us this?
- Write a personal action step based on this conversation.
