A Faithful Man (Part Two)

Genesis 39:3,4
"Now his master saw that the Lord was with [Joseph] and how the Lord caused all that he did to prosper in his hand. So Joseph found favor in his sight...and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he owned he put in his charge."

If you want to find a biblical example of someone who was faithful in little things, turn to the last chapters of Genesis. As you read through the story of Joseph, you see a man who was considered trustworthy:

● He was given responsibility to shepherd his father's flocks "while he was still a youth" (Genesis 37:2).
● After he was sold into slavery by his brothers, he ended up in the house of Potiphar, where he performed his duties well enough to be appointed overseer of all that Potiphar owned (v. 39:5).
● He refused the amorous advances of Potiphar's wife. Unfortunately, he was thrown into prison when she lied and said he had tried to seduce her (vv. 39:7-18).
● His character in prison was so strong that the chief jailer placed him in charge of all the prisoners (vv.39:21-23).
● After interpreting Pharaoh's dream, he was taken from prison and made a ruler in Egypt, second in power only to Pharaoh (vv. 41:38-41).

Joseph never sought to move up in responsibility. He was faithful to fulfill his responsibilities and content to allow God to give him more. Even his words to Potiphar's wife reveal his faithful character: "Behold, with me here, my master does not concern himself with anything in the house, and he has put all that he owns in my charge.... He has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do this great evil, and sin against God?" (Genesis 39:8,9).

Many people have ambitions, but sometimes I wonder if our ambitions are in the right area. Jesus said the greatest ambition in Mark 10:35-45 was to be the slave of all-a servant.

Do you want to be a leader? Then you've got to be a servant.

Prayer: If you desire to have additional responsibilities, ask God to give you the desire to serve others.

Discuss: Do others consider you a servant? Perhaps a better question is do people treat you like a servant?

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Condition of Blessing

"Bring ye all of the tithes into the Storehouse, that there may be meat in Mine House, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of Heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it" (Malachi 3:10).

Many read and plead this promise without noticing the condition upon which the blessing is promised. We cannot expect heaven to be opened or blessing poured out unless we pay our dues unto the LORD our God and to His cause. There would be no lack of funds for holy purposes if all professing Christians paid their fair share.

Many are poor because they rob God. Many churches, also, miss the visitation of the Spirit because they starve their ministries. If there is no temporal meat for God's servants, we need not wonder if their ministry has been little food in it for our souls. When missions pine for means and the work of the LORD is hindered by an empty treasury, how can we look for a large amount of soul-prosperity?

Come, come! What have I given of late? Have I been mean to my God? Have I stinted my Savior? This will never do. Let me give my LORD Jesus His tithe by helping the poor and aiding His work, and then l shall prove His power to bless me on a large scale.
ch spurgeon