Biblical Laws of Partnership with GodSample

William Douglas and Rubens Teixeira: The 25 Biblical Laws of Partnership with God Devotional Day 5

“The Law of Well-Rewarded Affliction”

Scripture reading: Romans 5:3-5; James 1:2-8

There is nothing inviting about the word affliction. But without a good dose of it, rarely does anyone attain great victories. Athletes understand the expression “no pain, no gain.” Affliction refers to the long period of difficulties, suffering, and frustration we must endure until the results of our efforts are recognized and rewarded.

Because the marketplace is tough and demanding, often we are required to endure unpleasant situations. But we need to believe that this effort will be recognized and rewarded. On the spiritual level, the development of our skills depends on overcoming challenges, and the affliction that we face often has strong educational content. In order to train us, our more experienced partner, God, places obstacles along the way for us to overcome.

The story of Jacob, told in Genesis 25–49, illustrates important lessons about the Law of Well-Rewarded Affliction. Jacob was a mistreated employee, exploited by his father-in-law, Laban. This young man tolerated all kinds of troubles because of his love for Rachel, Laban’s youngest daughter. But Jacob was deceived by Rachel’s father. Even though he had agreed to work for seven years for the dowry of his beloved Rachel, when the time was up, on his wedding day, Laban gave Jacob his older daughter, Leah, instead. Jacob’s scheming father-in-law made him work another seven years for the right to marry his favorite.

After serving fourteen years for Laban’s two daughters, Jacob continued working another six for his father-in-law in a rural partnership until he decided to leave. By that time, Jacob had become wealthier than Laban.

During their partnership, however, Laban created an environment of dissatisfaction that led to the dissolution of the relationship. Each time that Laban changed Jacob’s salary, with the intent of being more successful and raising profits, he was undermining the trust between the two. Jacob was extremely tolerant until he decided that he had suffered enough exploitation. 

As this story exemplifies well, even competent professionals undergo trials in their careers. Due to great pressure over time, we have the potential to transform into diamonds. Being exploited or humiliated is a terrible experience, but it can help us build solid bases and pursue even more challenging goals. We need to be prepared for life’s inevitable injustices because the winds will not always be in our favor. We should allow hardships to strengthen us.

The Scriptures challenge us to a life of resistance and courage: “If racing against mere men makes you tired, how will you race against horses? If you stumble and fall on open ground, what will you do in the thickets near the Jordan?” (Jer. 12:5 NLT).

The river reaches its goals because it has learned to get around obstacles.

—Lao-Tzu