SACRIFICE
Genesis 29:18,20,27-28
Since Jacob was in love with Rachel, he told her father, “I’ll work for you for seven years if you’ll give me Rachel, your younger daughter, as my wife.”
So Jacob worked seven years to pay for Rachel. But his love for her was so strong that it seemed to him but a few days.
“But wait until the bridal week is over; then we’ll give you Rachel, too—provided you promise to work another seven years for me.”
So Jacob agreed to work seven more years. A week after Jacob had married Leah, Laban gave him Rachel, too.
Each time I read this record of Jacob's marriage to Rachael, I wonder if I really understand the love he had for her. Serving seven years just to get to marry her. Now wait a minute, this was not suggested by Laban his uncle, he, Jacob, made the suggestion.
The puzzle gets more thickened when he gladly accepted to serve another seven(7) years, this is coming to a total of fourteen(14) years! For one woman.
The question would be, was the sacrifice worth it?
I love this scripture:
Ecclesiastics 7:8
Better [is] the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: [and] the patient in spirit [is] better than the proud in spirit.
Can we notice the contrast between Jacob and Esau? PATIENCE.
Jacob knew how to wait. This is a very important attribute for anyone who will walk with God.
James 1:4
But let patience have [her] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Patience will make you make the right sacrifices, and keep you from selling off, like Esau did.
Remember that at the end Jacob, who came to Laban's house with nothing, left Laban's house with wealth and a community.
Today we see youths rushing to where they have no clue, they do all kind of things to "make it" as the say. I feel unhappy with pastors, ministers, leaders and parents who one way or the other promote this get rich quick teaching. Some have driven their children into horrible marriages that become fatal. Some have driven people to become manipulators and cheats, they defraud others, even the brethren. We even have record of parents who encourage their children to cheat in exams and bribe their way through life - what a shame!
Do believers today understand what sacrifice is? Everything cannot be reduced to financial currency, there are things that are more important than money. There are things that need to be clarified.
There is time to learn, there is time to seek counsel. Do we still wait on the Lord.
The major reason for sacrifice is LOVE.
This the Heavenly Father did:
1 John 3:1a
See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!
John 3:16
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
What is your sacrifice? Who do you love?
May the Lord help us to continually make the right sacrifices, our decisions will be by the direction of God's Spirit.
He calls us blessed.
Love
@the watcher.
Since Jacob was in love with Rachel, he told her father, “I’ll work for you for seven years if you’ll give me Rachel, your younger daughter, as my wife.”
So Jacob worked seven years to pay for Rachel. But his love for her was so strong that it seemed to him but a few days.
“But wait until the bridal week is over; then we’ll give you Rachel, too—provided you promise to work another seven years for me.”
So Jacob agreed to work seven more years. A week after Jacob had married Leah, Laban gave him Rachel, too.
Each time I read this record of Jacob's marriage to Rachael, I wonder if I really understand the love he had for her. Serving seven years just to get to marry her. Now wait a minute, this was not suggested by Laban his uncle, he, Jacob, made the suggestion.
The puzzle gets more thickened when he gladly accepted to serve another seven(7) years, this is coming to a total of fourteen(14) years! For one woman.
The question would be, was the sacrifice worth it?
I love this scripture:
Ecclesiastics 7:8
Better [is] the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: [and] the patient in spirit [is] better than the proud in spirit.
Can we notice the contrast between Jacob and Esau? PATIENCE.
Jacob knew how to wait. This is a very important attribute for anyone who will walk with God.
James 1:4
But let patience have [her] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Patience will make you make the right sacrifices, and keep you from selling off, like Esau did.
Remember that at the end Jacob, who came to Laban's house with nothing, left Laban's house with wealth and a community.
Today we see youths rushing to where they have no clue, they do all kind of things to "make it" as the say. I feel unhappy with pastors, ministers, leaders and parents who one way or the other promote this get rich quick teaching. Some have driven their children into horrible marriages that become fatal. Some have driven people to become manipulators and cheats, they defraud others, even the brethren. We even have record of parents who encourage their children to cheat in exams and bribe their way through life - what a shame!
Do believers today understand what sacrifice is? Everything cannot be reduced to financial currency, there are things that are more important than money. There are things that need to be clarified.
There is time to learn, there is time to seek counsel. Do we still wait on the Lord.
The major reason for sacrifice is LOVE.
This the Heavenly Father did:
1 John 3:1a
See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!
John 3:16
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
What is your sacrifice? Who do you love?
May the Lord help us to continually make the right sacrifices, our decisions will be by the direction of God's Spirit.
He calls us blessed.
Love
@the watcher.
Comments
Post a Comment