There Is a Time and Place Not to Be a Pushover, And Be Well Aware of Your Self-Worth

Yaakov tells Lavan openly that he owed him a “thank you”, since all his success was because of him. There is a time and place where a person can praise himself, and give himself credit for the success of others. Yaakov also elaborates on what a good and honest job he did for Lavan. אַתָּה יָדַעָתָּ אֵת אֲשֶׁר עֲבִדְתִּיךָ (ל כט). You know how I served you with dedication.

And later on, he describes his Mesirus Nefesh in working for Lavan. “In the 20 years that I worked for you, no ewe (sheep) miscarried. I would bear the loss of any that were stolen or mangled. By day, the heat consumed me, and frost by night, and without sleeping. Yet you switched my wage 100 times, etc.” Look how Yaakov elaborates in defending himself, and putting Lavan in his place.

Similarly, we find Avraham said to Melech Sedom: וְלֹא תֹאמַר אֲנִי הֶעֱשַׁרְתִּי אֶת אַבְרָם (יד כג) You will not take credit for my financial success (and to Efron also). The Avos were great Anavim, but they weren’t pushovers, and they were well aware of their self-worth.