Principles for Prosperity
Thus the man became exceedingly prosperous, and had large flocks, female and male servants, and camels and donkeys. (Genesis 30:43)
The man was Jacob, who left his home with no money, traveled far to the east to the land of his mother’s family, and who by hard work earned a double dowry for marriage. After cheating his brother and his father, Jacob was cheated by his uncle.
Despite it all, Jacob became exceedingly prosperous. According to Leupold, the Hebrew original of this phrase is, “The man burst out exceedingly exceedingly.” Jacob was so prosperous, so blessed by God, that his excess had excess! This was evident in the way wealth was held by most people in his time and place: large flocks, female and male servants, and camels and donkeys. All this meant that Jacob, who left home without any money, because a very wealthy man.
This wealth was one expression of God’s blessing in Jacob’s life. God blessed Jacob, but it was not because Jacob was especially good. It was because of the promises God made to Jacob (Genesis 28:13-15) and the covenant made to Abraham.
In a similar way, blessing comes from the LORD to His people not because they are great or good, but because of the covenant God has made with them through Jesus and the promises He has given in His word.
Still, we can learn a few principles for prosperity from Jacob.
Don’t make wealth your goal. Genesis 30:25-26 explains that Jacob would have been content to simply leave Laban and take his family back to Canaan. His original goal wasn’t to become rich, and he escaped the dangerous temptation and trap that comes to those who desire to be rich (1 Timothy 6:9).
Don’t be afraid to work for others and to increase their wealth before or as you work to increase your own wealth. In Genesis 30:27, Jacob’s employer (his father-in-law Laban) declared that God had blessed him because of Jacob’s faithfulness and hard work.
Work hard, dedicating yourself to your employer’s success. Genesis 30:26 and 31:38-42 tell us that Jacob’s path to wealth began by faithfully working for his father-in-law. Jacob could have been dishonorable and focused only on himself and his success. Instead, he also worked to be a blessing to his employer, even when it wasn’t easy.
Trust God. Genesis 30:31-33 describes a strange plan Jacob proposed to separate the herds and the offspring that belonged to him and to Laban. It’s hard to tell if the plan was Jacob’s idea or given by the LORD, but either way Jacob had to trust God – and God blessed Jacob with great prosperity.
God never promises that His people will all be rich in material things in all seasons of life. Yet these are good, everlasting principles. Don’t make wealth your goal. Don’t be afraid to benefit others. Work hard, and trust God. Doing these things honors God and puts us in the place to receive all He wants us to have.
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