Let me inspect your flocks today and remove all the sheep and goats that are speckled or spotted, along with all the black sheep. Give these to me as my wages. - Genesis 30:32
The story of Jacob and Laban is a familiar one to most Bible readers. Jacob, having fled from his brother Esau (after having stolen his blessing), arrived to live among his relatives. Upon seeing Rachel (Laban's daughter), he decided to do whatever it would take to have her as his wife. At that point, life became difficult for Jacob, but he persevered and after many years (and another wife and multiple children) was ready to head out on his own. Unfortunately, Jacob had little to show for all of his hard work. So, he decided to implement a plan that would give him an opportunity to accumulate the wealth necessary to provide for all those under his care. It is here that Jacob's story also provides some practical advice for the budding entrepreneur, in both business and ministry.
If a person is willing to productively utilize that which the world deems inferior or useless, he or she will set himself or herself apart from the masses. You see, those who only see value in what prevailing culture calls "valuable" will never effectively grow a business or enterprise. In the same way, those who are seeking to launch a ministry for Christ must be willing to accept (and search for) the "sheep' that worldly shepherds would only cast off. Everyone matters!
Those whom Jesus chose as His closest followers, empowered by the Holy Spirit, would go on to change the world by proclaiming His life-changing message. though the world did not deem them "mighty" or "important," the Savior did. It is Christ in us that is the hope of glory, not us.
The Church is the one institution that exists for those outside it. - William Tyndale
Comments