What Goes Around Comes Around Series

Jacob had not been concerned with how his deception devastated his brother Esau; Laban was not concerned about how his deception took advantage of Jacob. Sometimes it is not until we taste our own medicine that we realize how bad it is. Even then, many folks do not learn.

B. God often uses IRONY to chastise us

Irnoy is, "a combination of circumstances or a result that is the opposite of what is or might be expected…"

Psalm 7:15-16 states a principle: "He who digs a hole and scoops it out falls into the pit he has made. The trouble he causes recoils on himself; his violence comes down on his own head."

Both Laban and Jacob paid a price for their schemes.

C. INTEGRITY is part of loving others

The Old Testament Law contains a total of 613 commandments. Many of them deal with sacrifices, rituals, or God’s special governance of Israel. But many of them are moral commands. Jesus summarizes them by 2 of the 613: Love God with all you have, and your neighbor as yourself.

If we love our neighbor, we are going to act with integrity, honesty -- being above board.

Parents need to teach their children lessons of integrity and empathy. A simple peanut butter commercial offers an example.

Two boys are going to share a slice of a peanut butter sandwich. She lets one boy cut, but when she’s done, she allows the other boy to choose the half he wants.

This teaches the boys to try to cut evenly and fairly, and shows that trying to cheat others comes back upon our own heads.

D. MANIPULATING others can sever relationships

"A means of gaining control or social influence over others by methods which might be considered unfair."

Some people earn positions of influence through service, hard work, self-discipline, and self-sacrifice. Others are weasely and dishonest, as in the cases of both Jacob and Laban.

The Weasel (ferret) has a long, sleek, thin body enabling it to squeeze into narrow spaces. The idea is that it is a sneaky and harmful creature.

E. USING others turns friends into enemies

People do not take well to being taken advantage of. Yes, Laban would get 7 more years service out of Jacob, but think about what a great relationship they could have had.

But Laban was not manipulative in just this instance; the evidence of this and coming texts shows that being manipulative was a way of life for Laban.

F. God GIVES to us disproportionately and wants us to do the same

He is not as concerned about what we do for Him as He is about our hearts. He rescues us from sin because He is generous and doesn’t keep score.

Jacob thought lightly about taking advantage of others, but he didn’t take it so lightly when others took advantage of him

CONCLUSION

1. How can you tell if you are manipulative? Believe others!

2. How can you prevent yourself from taking advantage of others? Take a moment to try to feel things from their perspective.

3. And believe that God’s way is the best way. Integrity is more important than results. Pleasing God is more important than getting ahead. God gave us thing to use and people to love -- let’s not reverse that.