Fresh Heart For a New Week

Don’t ever forget that today is forging tomorrow.

“Look, I’m dying of starvation!” said Esau. “What good is my birthright to me now?”

Genesis 25:32 New Living Translation

 ‘Now’ is often part of a fool’s philosophy … trading a future treasure for immediate fulfillment. It’s saying “No” to tomorrow by saying “Yes” to now. It’s thinking about the future only when it arrives.

Almost everyone is guilty of this kind of thinking at some time or another, but this concept of dealing with life is epidemic today. Tens of millions of Americans blithely squander the possibility of future security by satisfying today’s hunger. They see, they want, they obtain … without so much as a thought as to what the real cost might be a year down the road.

Which leads us to the point of this short devotional. There are decisions and choices in life which do not seem to have an immediate value to us, but which at a later time will have an incalculable worth! I’m reasonably sure that as Esau watched his father Isaac bestowing the valued birthright on his younger brother he couldn’t even remember what the stew he bartered for tasted like!

Living only for today can bring about some unwanted consequences.

It’s what causes a politician to give in to several months of an illicit affair in exchange for the crashing and burning of a distinguished career, the respect of his family and the disillusionment of all who knew him.

It’s the satisfaction of lighting up the first cigarette to fit into peers’ expectations at the cost of years of health difficulties later in life.

It’s the temptation to immerse yourself in your job at the expense of losing your family in the process.

It’s the insistence of having the finest car, the biggest flatscreen, the most toys in the garage and having to live with the sound of the wolf’s banging on the front door for decades to come.

And it’s why God in his ultimate wisdom reminds us that we do reap what we sow. Look at Galatians 6:7 in the New Living Translation: “Don’t be misled–you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.”

 This would be a great week to look as far forward in your life as you can. Decide who you really want to be … what integrity, peace and relationships you will want to have at that point. Then travel back to today and begin making decisions that will get you there.

The advertiser was right … you only go around once, so ask God to help you do it right!

May there be joy and wise decisions on your journey!

Paul Walterman

Fresh Heart Ministries

By the way, I published a prayer blog called “Preposterous Prayer” several days ago. To read it and sign up for future blogs on the subject of prayer, visit freshheartministries.org. If you are a pastor and wish to receive “60 Seconds of Pastoral Pondering” you can sign up for those on my website.