Many years ago, my wife & I attended a Marriage Weekend retreat. Our hope was to get away from our young kids (…in a good way), affirm our love, and improve our communication. We were surprised to learn that we had to immediately surrender our iPhones, watches and personal agenda once we arrived. It drove us crazy and served as a major distraction to our time. It got to the point that I asked leadership if we could have our clocks & watches back just to know what time of day it was but their response was “we don’t do it that way” here– we have rules that everyone must follow. We are probably the only ones in their history that left halfway through the retreat!
“We don’t do it that way in our country,” said Laban. “We don’t marry off the younger daughter before the older. Enjoy your week of honeymoon, and then we’ll give you the other one also. But it will cost you another seven years of work.” Jacob agreed. When he’d completed the honeymoon week, Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife. Jacob then slept with her. And he loved Rachel more than Leah. He worked for Laban another seven years.” — Genesis 29:26-30
Jacob worked 14 years for two sisters in marriage. During Jacob’s stay with his uncle, he fell in love with his youngest daughter Rachel and agreed to work seven years for Laban in return for her hand in marriage. However, on the night of the wedding, Leah, Rachel’s older sister, had been substituted for Rachel and Jacob was wed to Leah! Jacob was tricked and it seemed unfair. Jacob had worked 7 years then received his reward of a bride. He exchanged his skills for something of perceived equal value and this is how the world works. Those 7 years probably felt like 70 to Jacob. Spiritually speaking, this is how religion works too– a set of “do’s and don’ts” that by following pays off based on merit.
Fortunately Jesus came to flip this spirit upside down. You see that same Jacob received Rachel first then he worked 7 years for her. He received his worth then out of his love for her, Jacob worked another 7 years for Laban. And I’m thinking those 7 years probably felt like 70 days to Jacob. Spiritually speaking, this is how grace works– receiving something we don’t deserve.
When it comes to religion, I hope we can say “we don’t do it that way” because I think religion denies the work of Christ and the grace of God in our lives. The fact is that religion is absolutely devastating to our relationship with God.
- Religion is more interested in seeing people punished and receive justice for their wrongs, than in seeing people repent and receive a gift from God.
- Religion attempts to discount sin in our own lives.
- Religion likes to see people ‘taught lessons’ when they are wrong. Grace desires the best for others, and is truly concerned over the other person’s well-being.
Jesus wants your heart not your report card. Are you modeling Leah-love or Rachel-love today?
Reflection |
How can you show grace to others in the workplace?