In our personal lives, we seek to be paid for the time and effort we put into our work for our earthly employers. When Jacob stayed with Laban his uncle for a month, working for him, Laban questioned “Just because you are a brother (relative) of mine, should you work for nothing?” and asked him “Tell me what your wages should be?” Though Jacob served Laban, Laban recognizes him as a brother and not a servant.
Points to Ponder:
Jesus referred to his disciples not as his servants but as his friends (John 15:15) and upon his resurrection referred to them as his brothers (Matthew 28:10). In other words, we who do the will of God the Father as Jesus’ disciples are his relatives – his brothers and sisters (Matthew 12:46-50). The Bible also tells us that we are laborers together with God (1 Corinthians 3:9; 2 Corinthians 6:1). So the question that looms to be answered is – Is our work that we do for our Lord God worthy of wages?
For the wages of our sin is death and Jesus paid the price with his life to give us life. An equitable exchange would be “life for life” and so are we willing to pay the price of our lives for The One who has given us life? If God was to ask us as to what our wages should be, what would be our response? In other words, Is our work that we do for the Lord God worthy of wages?
Genesis 29:15 (KJV)
15 And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?