Genesis 30

"Give me my wives and my children that I have worked for, and let me go.  You know how hard I have worked for you."

Genesis 30:26

Jacob and Laban both know that their combined wealth is a result of Jacob's hard work.  After Jacob asks to be able to leave, Laban begs him to stay, noting how the Lord has blessed him through Jacob.

When we find ourselves in Laban's circumstances, how do we handle ourselves?  Do we beg and plead for others to stay in our lives and do all of our work for us, or do we learn from their examples that hard work and sacrifice bring all kinds of blessings?

When we find ourselves in Jacob's circumstances, how do we handle ourselves?  Do we continue to work for the good of others, or do we use our blessings to help those we love?

I think that, throughout our lives, we often find ourselves rotating between these two situations.  The important thing to remember about them is that success requires hard work, but that success is worthless unless we have loved ones to share it with.  It's also important to note that idleness brings no reward, and the others who lift us up in our idleness will eventually stop providing for us.