Scripture:
Genesis 30:1–13 (paraphrased) – Rachel and Leah gave their maids to Jacob in a desperate attempt to outdo each other in childbirth.
Rachel and Leah both dragged themselves into a destructive competition. One would give her maid to Jacob, then the other would do the same. Babies were born not out of joy but out of rivalry. These women willingly went through the emotional weight and physical cost of childbirth and even made others go through it on their behalf, just to prove a point. That’s how deep envy can go. It doesn’t only make you feel bad about what someone else has, it can drive you into reckless decisions just to appear like you’re winning.
What would make a woman hand her maid to her husband, twice? What would make another woman go through the risk of childbearing just to stay ahead? That’s what happens when we lose focus. When envy grows, we stop being grateful for our portion. We stop walking in our calling. We build legacies not rooted in purpose but in strife. And sadly, most of the children born during this bitter contest were never truly celebrated or remembered for much later on.
Don’t birth a future out of bitterness. Refuse to let desperation push you into actions that God never endorsed.
Prayer:
Lord, uproot every seed of envy, bitterness, and unhealthy competition in my heart. Help me to walk in contentment, purpose, and peace.
Further Reading:
James 4:1–3, Galatians 6:4–5, 1 Timothy 6:6