How Jacob Built His Wealth

WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL BY PATRICE TSAGUE

How familiar are you with the story of Jacob in the Bible? 
Are you aware that he was an entrepreneur who became wealthy due to his faithfulness to the principles of God?
What are the Godly principles of building wealth?

How Jacob Built His Wealth

Can the LORD provide guidelines to His children on how to build wealth during difficult economic times?

Of course the answer is yes. Bad times are nothing new to God. He specializes in helping us transform bad situations into good ones. What the devil means for evil, God always utilizes for our good (Genesis 50:20). 

In the book of Genesis, we meet Jacob, the grandson of a wealthy businessman. His grandfather, Abraham, had made his money through his sheep and cattle business, just as his father had. After establishing his livestock, Jacob was sent to his uncle Laban to find a wife (Genesis 28:1-2). His uncle was also an entrepreneur in the sheep and cattle business. 

Jacob made an agreement with his uncle Laban to work for him for seven years, in exchange for his youngest daughter Rachel’s hand in marriage (Genesis 29:18). However, Laban tricked Jacob, and made him work fourteen years in exchange for two of his daughters, the youngest and the oldest, even though Jacob was interested only in the youngest (Genesis 29:25). During the time that Jacob worked for Laban, the LORD prospered his business. 

Now with a growing family, Jacob requested permission from his uncle to leave and go back to his country and make provision for his own household. However, Laban refused to let Jacob go, recognizing that his business had increased tremendously in revenue since Jacob had been working for him. He therefore requests that Jacob name his wage. “How much will it take for you to stay?” he asks (Genesis 30:27-28). Jacob does not name a salary but rather asks for equity partnership in the business (Genesis 30:32). 

An equity partnership is an exchange of money or work for a percentage of shares in the business. This approach increased Jacob’s risk but also increased his chances of becoming wealthy. He understood his value, and since he was the one with the expertise, he recognized that no amount of money offered by Laban could have been enough to pay him what he was worth.

He therefore exchanged his expertise not for salaries and benefits but for an equity stake in the business. As a result of this shrewd business transaction by Jacob, the LORD gave him clever ideas and further prospered the works of his hands. Jacob became exceedingly prosperous and had large flocks, female and male servants, and camels and donkeys (Genesis 30:43).

What were the keys and principles that Jacob used to build his wealth?

1. He obeyed his father (Genesis 28:1-5)
2. He believed the promises of God (Genesis 28:12-19)
3. He trusted God for his provision (Genesis 28:20)
4. He committed to tithing (Genesis 28:22)
5. He was faithful over another man’s business (Genesis 30:27) 
6. He recognized his value (Genesis 30:30)
7. He was committed to providing for his family (Genesis 30:30c)
8. He was “wise as a serpent and gentle as a dove” (Genesis 30:31-32, Matthew  10:16)
9. He was not afraid to take risks (Genesis 30:31-33)
10. He was diligent in business (Genesis 30:35-43)

Whether you work for someone else or operate your own business, allow Jacob’s story to encourage you and give you insight into the ways of God. God rewards faithfulness, and He also permits you to look out for your own interests and the interests of your family. Although Jacob accumulated great wealth working with Laban, the time eventually came for them to part ways, and for Jacob to put his immediate family’s interests first. This is when God told Jacob to move on and return to his home country (Genesis 31:3). 

What is God directing you to do? Are you ready to do something shrewd, risky, or new, whatever it may be, and whenever God may show it to you? His plans are always for our good, and His kindness is everlasting. 

My prayer for you is that the God of Jacob will give you insight and prosper the works of your hands, so that you and those who depend on you may experience the fullness of what God has in store. 

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