November 1, 2009 What really matters long term in our marriages and life? Let’s see how this ties to our class about planning from last week. Key Bible verse: Genesis 25: 20-34 Genesis 25:20-34 20 and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah 21 Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. The LORD answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. 22 The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, "Why is this happening to me?" So she went to inquire of the LORD. 23 The LORD said to her, "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger." 24 When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. 25 The first to come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau. 26 After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau's heel; so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them. 27 The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was a quiet man, staying among the tents. 28 Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob. 29 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!" 31 Jacob replied, "First sell me your birthright." 32 "Look, I am about to die," Esau said. "What good is the birthright to me?" 33 But Jacob said, "Swear to me first." So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright. What is really important in life? 1. Money 2. Entertainment 3. Fame/Image/Status 4. Children and family? 5. Careers 6. Marriage 7. House 8. Honesty 9. Power 10. Appearance 11. Relationship with God 12. Helping others 13. Education 14. Cars 15. Clothes Are any of these less important now than they were 5-10-15 years ago for you? Girls: Was there any pressure to be in the “In crowd” in high school? Guys: Any pressure to do well in sports? Be accepted by your classmates? What are some of the pressures our children face today? (List them on the board) People sell old junk at garage sales and then realize they sold or gave away something very valuable. Show something valuable (or old baseball cards) Or maybe they needed to get rid of something very quickly Either way, they regret their decision what it could have done for them. In this lesson, Esau gives away his future for a bowl of stew. Let’s take this from the universal to the personal now. What kinds of things do people we know or even us have taken lightly today that have great effects on our future? (marriages?) (relationships with children?) Education? Relationship with God? Let’s discuss some of the items that people sometimes place over their marriages? Families? Pleasure-fun: Infidelity Status/Image: Cars, Houses, clothes, looks (material things) Selfishness: Rather spend time with others than invest in their marriages and children A lot of people live for what they can have today. Don’t throw away the future for short term fun or feelings today.