Genesis 31:38-41 New International Version (NIV)
38 “I have been with you for twenty years now. Your sheep and goats have not miscarried, nor have I eaten rams from your flocks. 39 I did not bring you animals torn by wild beasts; I bore the loss myself. And you demanded payment from me for whatever was stolen by day or night. 40 This was my situation: The heat consumed me in the daytime and the cold at night, and sleep fled from my eyes.41 It was like this for the twenty years I was in your household. I worked for you fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flocks, and you changed my wages ten times.
Jacob made it a habit to do more than what was expected of him. When his flocks were attacked, he took the losses. He did not split them with Laban. He kept working hard even when Laban made several pay cuts. He remained diligent. This diligence paid off. His flocks began to multiply. When you make the habit of doing more than what is expected, this pleases God. You earn recognition, as well as, advancement. This enhances your reputation. It builds other’s confidence in you. You gain more experience and knowledge. Finally, doing more than what is expected will develop your spiritual maturity. Do more than what is expected and make that a life choice and pattern.
