And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry, for I have learned by experience that the Lord hath blessed me for thy sake. Genesis 30:27
This world’s employers have learned that godly, faithful Christians make ideal employees. Serving the Lord Jesus faithfully also means being honest and diligent for our earthly masters. Many a business has prospered because of the Christians who were on staff, and the wise employers know this. Laban had learned by experience that his own interests were advanced when Jacob was on the job. Jacob’s skill with raising animals was unmatched, and his diligence was outstanding. Before Jacob came, Laban had little, but after Jacob’s arrival, Laban’s wealth expanded greatly. So when Jacob started talking about leaving, Laban began to get concerned. The people around us should worry, too, about losing the Christians that are about them.
Laban knew that he was better off when Jacob was around. He also knew that it was the Lord who was behind the blessing. What did Laban know about God? Only what he could observe in Jacob’s life. What does the world today know about God? Only what it sees in you and me. There is an old poem that begins: ‘I am my neighbour’s Bible; he reads me when we meet’. God’s character, God’s purposes, and God’s interest in humanity is all revealed in the life and walk of a believer. Hypocrites cause serious damage to this picture, but a sincere searcher for truth will have to admit that God’s people are a benefit and a blessing to the rest of mankind. They don’t want us to go away because we are too valuable. This should help us to appreciate what God has made of us by bringing us into His kingdom and family. And it should also remind us that the folks who do appreciate the Christians today will soon be without them because, just like Jacob, we will have to leave.
Laban might want to keep Jacob on his payroll, but in reality he had no possibility of retaining him. The world might want to keep the Christians around, but the shout for which we listen cannot and will not be delayed or halted. The sound of the trump of God will mark the final moment of our blessing on the world in which we temporarily reside. If we would be a blessing to those around us, we must do so today. If we would draw others to our Saviour, we must make the effort today.
Our godly character matters to those around us, because it is to their advantage that we live as we should. Our faithfulness could also work to their eternal welfare, if our testimony is true. -Jim MacIntosh