Labor of Love
Today’s Verse:
And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. ~Genesis 29:20
Jacob made his way to Padanaram, where he met Rachel. From the first moment he set eyes on her, he thought, “She’s the one my mother and father have been praying for.” When he came to her home and met her father Laban, Jacob asked for her hand in marriage. When Laban told Jacob that he would have to work for him for seven years before he could marry her, Jacob had no reservations about this. He was willing to give seven years of his life so that he could have her as his wife for the remainder of his lifetime. Jacob’s love is a picture of the motivation of love.
There is the character of love.
Love is an emotion that speaks of someone’s desire and attraction to another person. When we love someone, we desire to spend time with that person. We desire to do things for that person. We seek to make that person happy. We eliminate any possible competition from stealing our love for that person. Love will think no evil nor do anything wrong against the object of that love. Love is the glue that keeps relationships together. Love is that special place in your heart that you have for the person you have pledged your love to.
There is the commitment in love.
When you love someone, you are committed to that person. You are committed to that person with your time and affection. Everything about that relationship is above reproach and honest. Commitment reflects loyalty and fidelity. You defend the person you love. You gladly accept responsibility for the person you love. You stay with that person. You invest in that person and you spend it on that person.
There is the cost in love.
Love will cost you. Jesus said, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” Jesus laid down His life as the perfect Sacrifice for the sins of the world. He exemplified love by dying for us. He gave His life so that others could live. True love always involves sacrifice. Jacob served seven years for Rachel. He exemplified what we call a labor of love. He did not receive monetary compensation for his labor. His satisfaction was that he was serving a stated term so that he could marry Rachel. Those days seemed but a few. In reality, he counted down the days until they were completed. It cost him seven years of his life, but he completed them because of his love for Rachel.
There is the constraint in love.
Love is the greatest motivator in life. Paul said, “For the love of Christ constraineth us.” Love is the motivator that compels us to tell sinners that they need to be saved. It is the motivator for serving the Lord regardless of the hardships. It is the attribute that separates a church that is on fire for God from a church that is not. When you love your enemies as Christ loves you, you will pray for them. When you love Christ, there is no extreme that you will not go to in order to please the Lord. Love compels you to serve the Lord with passion and joy.
Jacob’s love for Rachel is a great picture of the love that we should have for the Lord, our spouse, our children, our parents, our church, and the spread of the gospel. Let your love be pure and be the motivator for living for God.
Have a love-filled God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Luke 23-24