“I Have Enough, My Brother”

The reunion of Jacob and Esau is poignant and inspiring. Twin brothers whose rivalry had escalated to the point that their mother feared for Jacob’s life were now as happy to see one another as the prodigal son and his father.

And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.

Genesis 33:4

An important element in this transformation is their evolving priorities. Esau, who had impulsively traded his birthright for some “bread and pottage of lentiles” (Genesis 25:34), now tried to turn away an enormous gift from his brother. “What meanest thou by all this drove?” he asked, referring to multiple waves of herds which Jacob had sent ahead. “I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself” (Genesis 33:8-9). Tellingly, Jacob echoed Esau’s words as he insisted that his brother accept the gift. “Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough” (Genesis 33:11).

How far they had come from the days when Jacob tried to make goat meat taste like venison and covered his hands and neck with furry goat skin in an effort to steal his brother’s patriarchal blessing! Ambition has given way to contentment and generosity, and they are now following in the footsteps of their grandfather, Abraham, who insisted on purchasing a burial place, even though the property was offered to him for free (Genesis 23:3-16).

Contentment can cultivate gratitude and generosity. Perhaps contentment is the privilege of the wealthy, who can afford to let things go. But I think something else is happening here: a realignment of priorities, a recognition that people are more important than things and that building relationships, rather than acquiring goods, is the key to happiness.

The apostle Paul, after encouraging church members in Philippi to seek after everything virtuous, lovely, of good report, or praiseworthy, immediately qualified this ambition with the following reflection:

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

Philippians 4:11

Actually, the acquisition of goods can turn a person into a miser, more tightly tethered to worldly treasures than ever, like the rich man in Jesus’s parable, busily building bigger barns to store all of his fruits and goods until the day of his death. (See Luke 12:16-21.) Far less common is the example of Lehi, who left his home, his land, his gold and silver, and his precious things, in order to lead his family to a new land of promise. (See 1 Nephi 2:4.) Appropriate priorities can help us let go of intangible things as well. When Alma was discouraged at the results of his missionary efforts, he reminded himself that God had selected his field of labor. “I ought to be content with the things which the Lord hath allotted unto me,” he wrote (Alma 29:3).

Today, I will strive for contentment. I will be grateful for the things I have, prioritize people over things, and let God govern my life.