As long as you are proud you cannot know God. A proud man is always looking down on things and people: and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you.
C.S. Lewis (Mere Christianity)
Joseph is a model of humility. He had much to hang his head about, but instead, he kept his eyes on God and therefore experienced contentment that is truly other-worldly considering his circumstances.
“The Lord was with Joseph…” – Genesis 39:2
Joseph was faithful to God and used his gifts wherever he was placed. He had lofty aspirations for sure, but where God placed him he was faithful and focused. Unjustly, Joseph was thrown into a pit by his brothers and then sold as a slave to traveling merchants. Yet even as a slave in Egypt he was faithful to God. He used his gifts to bless Pharaoh’s house and government with excellence and gratitude for the opportunity to serve.
Then there was another dip in his story.
FAITHFUL TO GOD EVEN WHEN WE GET THE SHORT END OF THE STICK
While minding his own business, Joseph gets unjustly accused of coming on to Potiphar’s wife. He must have wondered, “When will this stop?” Still being faithful to God, he runs away from the trap of temptation set for him. Yet he still finds himself in court, accused for something he never did. Ugh! Talk about getting the short end of the stick! Then came an extended season in prison. One would think this would be the final straw, but instead, while growing a scruffy beard behind bars, he again lived faithfully trusting God in a dark dungeon surrounded by criminals.
DELIVERING THE TRUTH WITHOUT FEAR?
Eventually by using his skills to lead and govern and presumably exercising good hospitality and love for people he became the de facto captain of the prison. When given the opportunity to use his gift of interpreting dreams of the Cupbearer and Baker who had been thrown in the dungeon, he delivered the truth without fear of how they would take his interpretation of their dreams. The Cupbearer would get a second chance with Pharaoh, and the Chief Baker would be beheaded in three days! That must have been really hard to bear such bad news.
GOD HAS PERFECT TIMING – THERE ARE NO COINCIDENCES
Seemingly receiving no reward for his faithfulness to God, Joseph continues his daily prison life. His only reward was knowing and loving God each day. But then two years later Pharaoh had a dream that troubled him greatly. It “just so happened” (this was not a coincidence) that the Cupbearer who Joseph had befriended in prison was with Pharaoh when he cried out for an explanation for his dream. Humbly, the Cupbearer remembered Joseph’s gift and told Pharaoh that there was a young Hebrew in prison who could probably interpret it for him. Unbeknownst to Joseph, through an agonizing series of nightly dreams upon Pharaoh’s bed, now God was going to redeem him to greater influence. Joseph had nothing to do with the timing or the opportunity. He just practiced contentment and faithfulness in the midst of unusually bad circumstances… patiently waiting for God’s timing.
I wonder if for all of us, the timing and opportunities that come along are so much less about what we have done (good or bad) and pretty much depend completely on what God is wanting to do on his terms. He has a plan for you, and it is going to happen! In God’s perfect timing he lifted Joseph up to greater leadership. Yet for a long time, his only choice was to simply be faithful in the prison where he was unjustly placed.
WHEN YOU FEEL TRAPPED
When you walk in the mundane activities of life, school, work, etc. it may feel like a “prison” at times. Remember you are in good company with everyone else who has gone before you. Only a few royal princes and princesses throughout history have enjoyed the upward spiral of red-carpet life. And I bet if you could interview these “lucky ones” many of them would probably (ironically) complain that they felt trapped as well. It’s just plain human to have experiences like Joseph. The point is this: be encouraged in your daily expressions of faithful love for God today. We aren’t in control of where he is going to take us… whether it’s up, down, backwardS, sideways… it’s all “good” when you are with him.
Am I faithful to God and use my gifts wherever I’m placed? Or am I waiting to be lifted up, given greater opportunity, and then I’ll give it my all? There is nothing wrong with lofty dreams and aspirations to glorify God or achieve great things for him. But our peace is robbed if we try to take control or think that we know God’s timetable. We don’t. So today wherever God has you, be faithful to him and use your spiritual gifts for his glory.
PRAYER PROTECTS US FROM GIVING OUR BEST ENERGY AND TIME TO LESSER PURSUITS
Does it really matter if he lifts you up? What more will you get out of it than just being faithful where you are today? We are often motivated by unholy desires, aren’t we? One practical way to avoid this trap is just to maintain a simple prayer life, both in private and in community. Prayer that is consistent has a way of steering us away from wasting our very best energy on lesser, worldly things.
Prayer will protect you from giving your best energy and time to lesser ends.
REFLECTION
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Consider some of these quotes on prayer. How might prayer enable you today to remain faithful and content regardless of your circumstances?
“The history of missions is the history of answered prayer.” — Samuel Zwemer
What the Church needs to-day is not more machinery or better, not new organizations or more and novel methods, but men whom the Holy Ghost can use — men of prayer, men mighty in prayer. The Holy Ghost does not flow through methods, but through men. He does not come on machinery, but on men. He does not anoint plans, but men — men of prayer. —E.M. Bounds
Talking to men for God is a great thing, but talking to God for men is greater still. He will never talk well and with real success to men for God who has not learned well how to talk to God for men. —E.M. Bounds