Genesis 29:10 (NKJV)

“…Jacob went near and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother.”

While the other shepherds were waiting for all the other sheep first to be gathered and then they will do a communal watering of the sheep together, Jacob did not wait for that, once he saw Rachel come with her sheep. He removed the stone and personally watered her sheep.

There’s a place for the communal experience, but you need to see that there is also the need for targeted watering. Some sheep need water, and when you have spotted this, you need to become that instrument in God’s hands to water them. Jacob had vested interest and therefore broke the public practice. May God use you to water the thirsty sheep, even if it means breaking a few shared norms and practices of the community.

“Lord, I see so many eager and needy people out there. Constrict my heart to keep watering as the needs arise. Open my eyes to see the needs and to respond to them with urgency, even if others don’t know what I see. This I pray for, in Jesus’ name. Amen.”