Genesis 30:25-43
Poor Jacob is getting agitated, wheeling and dealing with Laban, matching his cunning and deceit, trying to enrich himself by his intelligence and his own efforts. How sad it is to see a believer striving with worldly people for earthly goods. Isaac had given quite a different example to his son, Jacob (Genesis 26:15-22).
In 1 Timothy 6:6-10 the apostle contrasts the desire for riches with godliness which, with contentment, is great gain. Notice then this twofold gain – true riches to be searched after. Firstly, there is godliness, that is to say, contact with God of which the altars speak to us. But in his exile, Jacob has no altar and no conscious contact with God. Secondly, there is contentment, which the patriarchs learned by living in tents and which Jacob had practised himself (Genesis 25:27). The apostle Paul had personally learned to be content with the circumstances in which he found himself (Philippians 4:11). How difficult it is always to be content! However the best testimony we can give to those around us is to show that we are satisfied with what God gives us. For He has given us no less than His own Son and all things with Him (Romans 8:32).