Living in the Spirit

July 20, 2020

Scripture Reading: Genesis 29:15-28
Then Laban said to Jacob, ‘Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?’ Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah’s eyes were lovely, and Rachel was graceful and beautiful. Jacob loved Rachel; so he said, ‘I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.’ Laban said, ‘It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; stay with me.’ So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.

Then Jacob said to Laban, ‘Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my time is completed.’ So Laban gathered together all the people of the place, and made a feast. But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob; and he went in to her. (Laban gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her maid.) When morning came, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, ‘What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?’ Laban said, ‘This is not done in our country—giving the younger before the firstborn. Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me for another seven years.’ Jacob did so, and completed her week; then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as a wife.

Many years ago, my division in a state government agency put out a bid for a new and improved computer system to support a major program. When the bids arrived, one was $2,000,000 less than the next lowest bid. If any bid contained all the required components, we had to take the lowest bid. In this instance, the Lowest was not the best bid. The company developed the program and announced the project was completed. It had not been tested. Beta testing is required of all computer programs because they all have glitches that need to be fixed. The company said there were no provisions in the contract for beta testing, but if we wanted to add beta testing, they could do it for about $2,000,000. Of course, the only people who could do the field test were the ones who created it. We had been royally hoodwinked.

Jacob was a con artist as apparently was his new father-in-law. Where does ethics fit in our lives? Is our word as good as our deeds? And if we put ourselves forth as followers of God, what does our behavior tells others about God?

No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. — Matthew 5:15–16

Prayer: Lord, keep us mindful of how our actions leave impressions on others. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.