“I will draw water for your camels also.” Genesis 24:19 NKJV
“Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans.”
My thoughts today are about “a little more.”
There are more people who want to have a little more and get a little more than are eager to give a little more, do a little more. The latter is where success happens. Today’s verse is tucked into a wonderful love story of a simple and sacrificial kindness bringing two lives together. I think there are a lot more everyday events that hold grander promise than you might imagine while you are just busy living. It could be said that, “Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans.” John Lennon, Beatles.
Let me set the scene. After his long journey, Abraham’s servant stopped beside a well and asked a young girl for water. Rebekah responded graciously by giving him water – simply a cultural courtesy to strangers (Hebrews 13:2) – but then generously ”did a little more and gave a little more.” Rebekah volunteered to water his camels also! Ten thirsty camels! That’s well beyond a little more. Read Genesis 24. You never know whose camels you are watering, or where they will take you.
She did not foresee her generous gesture to this stranger resulting in her marriage to a wealthy man’s only son, Isaac, and her inclusion into the lineage from which the promised Messiah would ultimately come. See Genesis 24:35-36. What she did without thought of reward crowned her lifetime with unexpected blessing and well beyond that, settled her destiny. See Matthew 1:2. Imagine if Rebekah had not graciously offered her help to that stranger, and his camels.
I think that one of the profound lessons of life is that no unselfish deed goes unrewarded, even when at the moment it may appear to have. Your blessing may not come from the same one who received your kindness, but kindness will be returned. God will see to that. My maternal grandfather was a pastor, and I remember his saying to me, “Allen Ray, remember that God will be no man’s debtor.” I understood him to mean that you can count on God to honor anything that is done for anyone in His name. “God is not unjust; He will not forget your work, and the labor of love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them.” Hebrews 6:10 NIV.
Plainly stated, the Bible establishes a principle God set forth at creation, ”If you sow good, you will reap good; if you sow evil, you will reap evil.” The Lord of the harvest promises that and is the Source, whatever point of supply He may choose to use. Sometimes you are the supply God uses; other times you are the recipient God blesses. Always, God is the Source!
One of our grandsons, Chase, excitedly told Gayle and me his story of driving through Wendy’s a night or so ago. Having only five dollars, he ordered carefully not exceeding what he had. At the window, he was surprised to be told that the car before him had left six dollars for whoever followed them. They had been helped, and just wanted to randomly help someone else. Chase was the unsuspecting recipient, one blessed in receiving, the other in giving. Both blessed! “The Lord Jesus Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:35 NIV.
My prayer for you is: never count the cost of giving apart from the blessing of receiving.