Is your life a mess? Pay attention to this.

Consider the foolhardy risk takers at the famous Heart Attack Grill in Las Vegas. This restaurant, known for its "flatliner fries" cooked in pure lard, butterfat shakes, no-filter cigarettes, and the "triple bypass burger," appears to be living up to its reputation. The restaurant's most recent victim, a woman, was eating a "double bypass burger" lathered in cheese and bacon and smoking cigarettes when she collapsed and was taken to the hospital where she is currently recovering.

Potluck “Awwww, Mr. Burdick...” Me: “What’s going on?” Michelle: “I’m telling them our story.”

Owner Jon Basso said that he wishes the customer a swift and full recovery. But, he added, the woman got exactly what she asked for: a brush with death.

"We attract … thrill seekers [and] risk takers," he told the Los Angeles Times, adding that his restaurant is a "bad for you but fun" restaurant that "attracts people who don't really take good care of their health."

The Quadruple Bypass Burger can top 10,000 calories. Basso said the Guinness World Records book contacted him Friday to say that the burger was being crowned the most caloric sandwich on Earth.

The restaurant also offers free meals to people weighing more than 350 pounds.

"I tell you," said Basso, "we attract that very bleeding edge, the avant-garde of risk takers."

Possible Preaching Angle: (1) Taking Risks/Following Christ—At times following Jesus involves taking good and godly risks. Unfortunately, at times we also take foolish and ungodly risks—risks that can hurt and even destroy us. (2) Sin and Temptation—Even when we know sinful behavior is bad for us, at times we keep engaging in that activity anyway.

The devil fools us to think that whatever I do today stays in today. It’s like Vegas.

The devil fools us to think that whatever I do today stays in today. Life is a lot like how people see Vegas. We want whatever happens today, to stay with today.

OPENING STATEMENT: Life gets messy, when we don’t pay attention to God.

What is unexpected is often

New York Times columnist David Brooks argues that there are three different lenses through which to think about marriage decisions—the psychological, the romantic, and the moral lens.

Your actions follow you.

Who you are

face to face with who you are

looking in a mirror

Be sure your sin will find you out

Most of the popular advice books adopt a psychological lens. These books start with the premise that getting married is a daunting prospect. So psychologists urge us to pay attention to traits like "agreeableness," social harmony, empathy, and niceness.

The second lens is the romantic lens. This is the dominant lens in movie and song. More than people in many other countries, Americans want to marry the person they are passionately in love with. But in their book "The Good Marriage," Judith Wallerstein and Sandra Blakeslee concluded that 15 percent of couples maintain these kinds of lifelong romantic marriages.

The illusion of deceit is the

The third lens is the moral lens. In this lens a marriage exists to serve some higher purpose. Brooks points to Tim Keller's book "The Meaning of Marriage," where Keller argues that marriage introduces you to yourself; you realize you're not as noble and easy to live with as you thought when alone. Brooks writes:

In a good marriage you identify your own selfishness and see it as the fundamental problem. You treat it more seriously than your spouse's selfishness. The everyday tasks of marriage are opportunities to cultivate a more selfless love. Everyday there's a chance to inspire and encourage your partner to become his or her best self. In this lens, marriage isn't about two individuals trying to satisfy their own needs; it's a partnership of mutual self-giving for the purpose of moral growth and to make their corner of the world a little better.

God’s best is often not what you expect.

Would you friend yourself People You May Know

God brought Jacob to the right place.

I. Jacob didn’t pay attention to God’s promises.

(Explanation—Application)

READ

A journey is simply a culmination of steps.

“…went on his journey...” — literally means to lift up his feet — lightness in his steps

You can’t move forward unless you pick up your feet.

God providentially leads Jacob to Laban’s neck of the woods.

You can move forward unless you pick up your feet.

Begin every step in prayer — so pray without ceasing

When God gives us the command to go, you obey and go.

Psalm 37:23 KJV 1900

23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: And he delighteth in his way.

What is missing from his journey?

Write home to momma points

Life is full of mostly normal, routine days—life is often uneventful.

We love the exciting moments in life—sometimes even live for them.

Every one of those travelings days, were bringing Jacob closer to God’s destination for Jacob.

Prayer was missing at his arrival

There was no praise, no prayers for next steps, etc.

Jacob just took over—instead of looking to God.

READ

Jacob failed to live in the reality of God’s promises.

God said, “I am with thee and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest...” ()

Genesis 28:15 KJV 1900

15 And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.

Did Jacob seek out God in all places whither he went? NO.

He was a good worshipper. “This stone, I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house.” ()

He was a good tither. “I will surely give the tenth unto thee.” ()

Genesis 28:22 KJV 1900

22 And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.

Yet, Jacob didn’t live in the reality of the God whom he worshipped and tithed to.

Is that us today? I attend church. I tithe. Why doesn’t God’s promises work?

We wonder why God’s promises don’t “work”, but never ask ourselves if we lived in the reality of those promises.

Living in the reality of them is live with the understanding that God is always with me.

We complain, scheme, etc.

II. Jacob didn’t pay attention to God’s will.

(Explanation—Application)

There is a great difference between Abraham’s servant seeking Isaac a wife and Jacob seeking himself a wife.

Abraham’s servant prayed before—he knew the limits of his own abilities to find the right wife for Isaac.

Abraham’s servant prayed, waited, and later worshipped/praised God for his blessings.

Jacob’s approach is depended on his own tactics, strengths, etc.

Jacob was impressed—probably too impressed. We get the idea that he was so fascinated by Rachel’s beauty, and so enchanted by her charm, that he failed to recognize her shortcomings or even to consider the will of God in his relationship with her. And being the shrewd operator that he was, he got down to business immediately. He reminded the shepherds that grazing time was being lost and that they should water their flocks and get them back out to pasture while it was still light, probably a ploy to get rid of them so he could talk to Rachel alone. But the shepherds had some sort of agreement that they would not roll the stone back from the mouth of the well until everybody’s flocks were gathered (, ).

Tried to cut out the competition (READ Gen. 29:6-7)

“Hey guys, here’s an idea, why not go ahead and water your sheep...”

Did Jacob work as hard to cut out that which competed for God’s place in his life? Do we???

Jacob did not forsake his scheming ways.

Sought to impress Rachel <— have fun with this!!! (READ Gen. 29:10)

Guys like to impress the girls—talk big “check out the gun show”, show off their car “check out the VW bug”, or wear a uniform—that’s how I got Michelle, I wore the uniform of a pastor—coat and tie

The region round Haran, though fertile, is very dry, and the chief use of the stone was to prevent the well from being choked with sand.

As the proper translation is the stone upon the well’s mouth was great, it would also serve to prevent the well from being used, except at fixed times; for it probably required the strength of two or three men (comp. Robinson, Bibl. Res. ii. 180) to remove it.

Whether he moved the stone himself or was the first one to start moving it, it almost appears that he wanted Rachel to take notice.

Hurried to commit to Rachel rather than call on God. (READ Gen. 29:18-20)

Jacob was impressed—probably too impressed with Rachel.

Jacob made his decision: he wanted beautiful Rachel for his wife.

Jacob made his decision: he wanted beautiful Rachel for his wife. Rachel means “ewe,” while Leah means “wild cow.” Leah’s eyes lacked that deep sparkle that, in Middle Eastern cultures, is a mark of beauty.

Rachel means “ewe,” while Leah means “wild cow.”

Leah’s eyes lacked that deep sparkle that, in Middle Eastern cultures, is a mark of beauty.

What is most important about a spouse is not their looks as much as their spirituality.

He failed to recognize her spiritual shortcomings or even to consider the will of God in his relationship with her.

What problems Jacob faced with Rachel—she was jealous, envious, selfish, discontented, and demanding. ()

Later, she steals idols, showing herself greedy, and told lies to cover it all up.

Let’s be careful not to overlook Leah, she knew what was happening.

Too many couples marry in haste and repent at leisure.

How do I know God’s will?

As you obey God’s revealed will, God reveals His instruction for other areas of your life.

It doesn't really work to ignore God's revealed will but yet expect God to answer specific questions like where you should go to college.

First, you have to make sure you're seeking to obey what God has already revealed in Scripture. This includes things like obeying your parents. That's a clear instruction from God. It doesn't really work to ignore God's revealed will but yet expect God to answer specific questions like where you should go to college.

Romans 12:2 KJV 1900

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

III. Jacob didn’t pay attention to God’s discipline.

READ

We often focus on the romantic nature of this story. “...the years seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.” Yet, when Jacob is deceived, he cries, “What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?”

What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?

God’s discipline is noticed until we are in it.

We often don’t pay attention to God’s discipline until we are experiencing it! If we paid attention to it prior to sin, we would avoid sin, for we would know that there is no escaping God’s discipline.

Proverbs 3:12 KJV 1900

12 For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; Even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

Why did this happen? Jacob earned his wage—his right to marry Rachel. It just wasn’t fair.

Biblical Principle = Kind reproduces kind.

Galatians 6:7 KJV 1900

7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Established in the Garden of Eden.

“What goes around comes around.” — he results of things that one has done will someday have an effect on the person who started the events.

Jacob deceived his father’s eyes, touch, and nose, Laban deceived Jacob’s eyes, touch, and nose.

Genesis 27:35 KJV 1900

35 And he said, Thy brother came with subtilty, and hath taken away thy blessing.

To make this switch, like Rebekah made Jacob Isaac, Laban made Leah Rachel.

beguile = betray, abandon, deal treacherously with — this is the ultimate kind of deception, back stabbing

One might be tempted to call this poetic justice.

Jacob would treat his wives like his father treated his sons.

Genesis 25:28 KJV 1900

28 And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.

Genesis 29:30 KJV 1900

30 And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.

God used Laban to show Jacob who he was.

God uses Laban to show Jacob who he was.

The schemer meets his match; for the schemer is schemed.

God often uses the people around us to show who we are.

The people in our life are no accident—every person shapes who we are.

Genesis 27:35 KJV 1900

35 And he said, Thy brother came with subtilty, and hath taken away thy blessing.

The decisions you make now will follow you into your future.

Numbers 32:23 KJV 1900

But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the Lord: and be sure your sin will find you out.

Sin is not just an act, sin is active.

Sin is not passive, it is persistent.

Sin is not forgetful, it is mindful.

When you sin, you don't just commit an act; you release a devastating power that affects your life indefinitely and usually the lives of others as well.

Kind reproduces kind.

When you sin, you release a destructive power into your life.

Galatians 6:7 KJV 1900

7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Conclusion

Just be your life is a mess, it doesn’t mean life is hopeless. Yes, life gets messy, when you don’t pay attention to God. Yet, life has hope, when you pay attention to God. Leah is probably the biggest loser from man’s perspective in this family situation. Her own father didn’t want her. She didn’t get her own marriage ceremony. She was living the ceremony of her sister. Her new husband didn’t want her when he say her the next morning. For Leah, life was a mess, but life wasn’t without hope. Look at the hope she had...

READ

God works through the weak, rejected, and sinful people of this word. He does so because of His grace. Jacob did nothing to merit God’s gracious favor in his life. Jacob’s family plays a great role in the history of Israel. From his sons, came the twelve tribes of Israel. That leads us to a great takeaway—a great fuel for today:

That is a great takeaway for us today—a great fuel for today:

What did Jacob reap from what he sowed?

The younger serves another.

The younger is deceived by another.

The younger is

Warren W. Wiersbe, Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1993), .

Jacob’s family plays a great role in the history of Israel. From his sons, come the twelve tribes of Israel

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament Chapters 29–31

When you pay attention to God, a messy life finds grace and hope.

Warren W. Wiersbe, Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1993), .