- Scripture: Genesis 29:1–20
- The Anchor: “So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.” – Genesis 29:20 (ESV)
Jacob finishes his journey to Haran, where Laban lived. When he got there, he saw a well in the field and he met some shepherds who knew Laban. There is an interesting dialogue about the rolling of a stone to water the sheep. As soon as Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of Laban, he rolled away the stone from the well and started watering the flock of Laban. He kissed her and wept loudly, which was definitely not a common greeting back in ancient times. Rachel brought him home to meet Laban, who was happy to see him and granted him hospitality. Laban asked Jacob what he wanted to work for, since Jacob was staying with them and an extra person in the house is expensive. Jacob said that he would work seven years to marry Rachel, the younger daughter. Laban approved and Jacob worked for seven years, but to him, it felt like only a few days because of the love that he had for Rachel.
There is one thing to focus on: love waits. There’s a super famous passage in 1 Corinthians 13 starting in verse 4 that goes like “Love is… love is…” and so on. Everyone has seen this passage before. Starting to read from verse 4, the first thing it says is, “Love is patient…” There’s a reason why this is the first thing that is said about love. True love waits and it is patient. This is talking about the love between couples that develops until and past marriage, but this should also apply to loving others in our daily lives.
Sometimes, I can be a patient person, but many times, patience is not my strongest suit. I can get easily frustrated if people aren’t fast at things. When God calls me to love others with patience, He is calling me to stop judging others for the speed of their activities and to get all these negative thoughts out of my head about other people. True love is the love of Christ. He waits for us even though we sin, so we should be patient with those who sin against us as well.
Reflection
- True love waits and it is patient, listed first in 1 Corinthians 13 for a reason. Are you willing to wait and put in the patient, long-term work for the things God has placed in your life, or do you demand fast results?
- You noted that patience is not always your strongest suit and you can get easily frustrated if people aren’t fast at things. The next time you feel that frustration during water polo practice or school events, how can you stop judging others and remember the patience Christ shows to you?
Prayer
Lord, thank You for the love of Christ that waits for me even though I sin. Forgive me for getting easily frustrated when people aren’t fast at things, and for the negative thoughts I have about others. Teach me to stop judging people for the speed of their activities, and help me to love others with Your daily patience. Amen.