Verses 1-14
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It is important to have good relationships with your relatives wherever possible. If you have good standings with your biological family, they will be helpful for you in desperate times. Do your best to keep a good relationship with your relatives.
Verses 15-20
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If you love someone, you will be patient for them. Love makes one patient.
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Time feels faster if you are occupied with work. Constant labor makes it easier to be patient. So be diligent in your work if you want to be more patient.
Verses 21-29
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Jacob was a deceiver in his past. Here he begins to reap what he sowed, in that he was deceived by Laban.
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We do not know whether Jacob regretted his decision to deceive Isaac and Esau, or if he was repentant. But, as with Jacob, there will be natural consequences for our sin, even after we are believers (Galatians 6:7-8).
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These consequences should help us learn to stop sinning (Psalm 119:67, 1 Timothy 1:19-20). So, God sometimes has to let us suffer those consequences. Learn from circumstances, so that you repent from foolish behaviors.
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Verses 30-35
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It is not good to pick favorites. Do your best to love everyone equally.
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Verse 31. Sometimes people end up less loved than others. As God showed grace to Leah because she was unloved by Jacob, God will give more grace to those who are less loved by people.
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Remember that even if people do not love you very well, God always loves you, and He does what He must to show it.
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Verse 32,35. When you are not well loved by people, pay attention to the good you do have in your life, and continually give God praise for it, as Leah praised God for her children even though she was not loved by her husband. This will help you to have joy.
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Don't see your accomplishments as a means to get people to value you, but as God giving you grace in your life because of His own love for you.
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