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Charles Stanley
Charles Frazier Stanley (1932–2023). Born on September 25, 1932, in Dry Fork, Virginia, Charles Stanley was an American Southern Baptist pastor, televangelist, and author who led First Baptist Church of Atlanta for over 50 years. Raised by his widowed mother, Rebecca, after his father’s death at nine months, he felt called to preach at 14 and joined a Baptist church at 16. Stanley earned a BA from the University of Richmond (1956), a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (1958), and a ThM and ThD from Luther Rice Seminary. Ordained in 1956, he pastored churches in Florida, Ohio, and North Carolina before joining First Baptist Atlanta in 1969, becoming senior pastor in 1971. In 1977, he founded In Touch Ministries, broadcasting his sermons globally via radio, TV, and online, reaching millions. A pioneer in Christian media, he authored over 60 books, including The Source of My Strength (1994), How to Listen to God (1985), and Success God’s Way (2000), emphasizing practical faith. President of the Southern Baptist Convention (1984–1986), he faced personal challenges, including a 2000 divorce from Anna Johnson after 44 years; they had two children, Andy and Becky. Stanley died on April 18, 2023, in Atlanta, saying, “Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him.”
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Charles Stanley emphasizes the danger of sacrificing our future for immediate gratification, using the story of Esau trading his birthright for a bowl of stew as an example. He warns against being ruled by fleshly desires rather than the Holy Spirit, which can lead to making hasty decisions with long-lasting consequences. Stanley challenges the audience to reflect on whether there is a 'bowl of stew' in their lives—something tempting but ultimately not worth sacrificing their future for. He encourages seeking God's perspective to discern between the temporary and the eternal, urging a focus on what truly matters in the long run.
Momentary Pleasure
Genesis 25:28-34 Sometimes a bad decision can cause us to sacrifice our entire future for the pleasure of a given moment. At the time, it may seem like the right thing. But when it's too late, we look back and wish our decision had been wiser. Esau sacrificed his birthright—wealth and inheritance, position and prominence, power and the right to reign over the entire family—for a bowl of stew. He could have prepared something else to eat. But he wanted what he wanted, and he wanted it now. Is there a "bowl of stew" in your life—something you want badly that's right in front of you, there for the taking? At the moment, it may seem reasonable to disregard the valuable things in your life in favor of something with little or no worth. We sacrifice our future for the moment when we are ruled by fleshly appetites rather than by the Holy Spirit. Appetites are God-given, but they are meant to be controlled. We have grown up as a generation of individuals who have seen that whatever we want, we can have it now. We can have almost anything in life if we are willing to pay the price. That's what caused Esau to lose his future. He wanted to gratify his appetite immediately, and at the time, he was willing to pay the price. We sacrifice our future for the present when we focus on the temporary instead of the eternal. What are you tampering with right now that could cost you your future? Is it worth it? Ask God to help you see your situation from His perspective.
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Charles Frazier Stanley (1932–2023). Born on September 25, 1932, in Dry Fork, Virginia, Charles Stanley was an American Southern Baptist pastor, televangelist, and author who led First Baptist Church of Atlanta for over 50 years. Raised by his widowed mother, Rebecca, after his father’s death at nine months, he felt called to preach at 14 and joined a Baptist church at 16. Stanley earned a BA from the University of Richmond (1956), a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (1958), and a ThM and ThD from Luther Rice Seminary. Ordained in 1956, he pastored churches in Florida, Ohio, and North Carolina before joining First Baptist Atlanta in 1969, becoming senior pastor in 1971. In 1977, he founded In Touch Ministries, broadcasting his sermons globally via radio, TV, and online, reaching millions. A pioneer in Christian media, he authored over 60 books, including The Source of My Strength (1994), How to Listen to God (1985), and Success God’s Way (2000), emphasizing practical faith. President of the Southern Baptist Convention (1984–1986), he faced personal challenges, including a 2000 divorce from Anna Johnson after 44 years; they had two children, Andy and Becky. Stanley died on April 18, 2023, in Atlanta, saying, “Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him.”