Genesis 25:29-30 Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. 30 He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom.)
Godly values and goodly virtues lead us into visions and victories. It is important to have a vision board for our lives but the vision must have its rudimentary roots in virtues and values. “The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts: therefore, guard accordingly, and take care that you entertain no notions unsuitable to virtue and reasonable nature” – Marcus Aurelius.
Virtues or our ‘moral standards’ and the values are the ‘code of ethics’ that paves the way to victory. A life without vision is dead. “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18). Values without vision and vision without values are both not effective. It is important to have good values but the values must translate into actions for our lives to become influential. “Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes time. Vision with action can change the world.” – Joel A Baker. Hence, it is important to have a vision board for our lives that are bolstered strong and firm on the foundation of godly virtues, belief systems and values.
Esau and Jacob were unlike twin brothers both in appearance and character. Of the twins Esau was born first. The firstborn Jewish child has special privileges and birthright. However, Esau lived a carefree life with no vision or values. His character did not back-up his calling. Hence he lost his rights as the firstborn for a bowl of red lentil stew! Esau, also called Edom in the Hebrew means “red”. He came back after a hunt in the countryside and was hungry. As he entered the tent and could smell the red lentil stew that his brother Jacob was cooking and impetuously traded his birthright for a bowl of stew. His life without vision, virtues and values became worthless. Esau killed his vision as it was not backed by the spine of godly values. The enmity between the brothers turned Esau’s generation into a cursed nation.
Virtues, Values & Visions:
1. Virtues: It is important to build godly virtues and grow in them. Patience and perseverance during trials and tough times build character. And endurance develops strength of character (Romans 5:4a). Tests and tempests can make us bitter or better. If we allow them to make us better we will develop the muscles of virtues.
2. Values: Values become the foundation on which we build our lives as values direct our choices and decisions. Habitually training our flesh and carnal desires to be subject to godly values will build our character.
3. Visions: Vision is extremely important but it must be guided by virtues and values. Visionless life is dead but vision without values is disastrous.
There is no age limit for us to revisit our vision board and fortify the foundations of godly virtues and ethical values.
Genesis 25:32 “Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?”
Prayer: Father God, help me to be clear about my vision for the future and build my life on values and virtues. Amen.
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