Look beyond the Soup

By Emma Stanford

Church Magazines

Don’t give up what’s most important for what you want in the moment.

If you’ve ever fasted, you know how hard it can be sometimes. You may have been tempted to end your fast early. But those who end early often don’t know the blessings that would have come if they had endured to the end.

Soup and Sacrifice

This struggle—making immediate sacrifices for faraway blessings—is nothing new. It can be found in the Old Testament story of Jacob and Esau, when Esau gave up the most important blessing in his life for a “mess of pottage,” which is a bowl of soup (see Genesis 25).

Yes, you read that right. A bowl of soup. Here’s what happened:

Esau and Jacob were twins. But there was one major difference: Esau was the firstborn, so he was entitled to the birthright. You see, back then when the father of the family died, every son was given his portion of everything the father had—his property, animals, and land for starters. But the child with the birthright (usually the oldest son) received a double portion of everything and the responsibility for leading the family.

But Esau “despised his birthright” (Genesis 25:34). Family and the things of the Lord weren’t important to him (see Genesis 26:34–35). Jacob, on the other hand, was obedient to the Lord and his parents.

One day, after a long day of hunting, Esau came home feeling so hungry he thought he might die. Whether he was exaggerating or he was really that hungry, when Esau saw that Jacob was preparing a hearty soup, he focused on only one thing: food!

Jacob, who valued the birthright, asked for Esau’s birthright in exchange for the soup. In that moment, Esau cared more about what he wanted right then. The greater blessings available to him in his future just weren’t important enough to say “No” to Jacob’s offer.

Now, going out hunting and wanting nutritious soup aren’t bad things by any means. But as President Dallin H. Oaks taught: “Just because something is good is not a sufficient reason for doing it. … Other choices are better, and still others are best.”¹

So, there is definitely an important eternal lesson Esau can teach us. Heavenly Father has outlined what matters most. Some of the blessings for following His plan come quickly, but many come later. Our challenge, our test, is to not give up what we want most for what we want now.

Mess of Pottage Moments

We face many decisions where we can fall into Esau-like thinking:

“Do I play another game before bed? Or do I read my scriptures?”

“I’m supposed to go to that service activity, but my friends invited me to hang out with them instead.”

“I can sleep another hour if I don’t go to seminary today.”

Little decisions like these add up. Even if our choices aren’t bad, they might not be the best ones that lead to eternal peace and happiness.

Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles asks a question we may all be thinking: “How do we find our way through the many things that matter?” His answer: “We simplify and purify our perspective. Some things are evil and must be avoided; some things are nice; some things are important; and some things are absolutely essential.”²

Be a Jacob

Because Esau consistently neglected the most important things, he tossed aside his birthright. Jacob’s righteousness allowed him to receive Esau’s blessings. He went on to become Israel, as in the twelve tribes of Israel. We’re all blessed with our own eternal birthright—the opportunity to become like our Heavenly Father and inherit everything He has. It’s available to all who come unto Christ and keep His commandments.

Often the best choice isn’t the easiest one. “Of course it’s hard,” President Russell M. Nelson has taught. “Everything to do with becoming more like the Savior is difficult.” But, he reminds us, “the Lord loves effort, because effort brings rewards that can’t come without it.”³

It may not always feel like the sacrifice of keeping the commandments pays off. But the amazing thing is, you will always be blessed by the Lord when you “look beyond the soup” toward the things that matter most.