“The LORD was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. When his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the LORD blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the LORD was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field. So he left in Joseph’s care everything he had; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.” (Gen 39:2-6NIV)
Those were the words spoken to describe Joseph’s stay in the house of Potiphar, his Egyptian master. First, it is reported that God was with him, even though he was there as a slave boy. And because God was with him, he found favour in the eyes of his master. That means his master became fond of him and took interest in his welfare and work. So, it does not matter how low the place you are in life may be, God can still favour you there. Yes, He is still able to make those around you there become interested in you and in your success.
But then, Joseph did not just become successful in Potiphar’s house because God caused him to find favour in the man’s eyes. There was something else involved, which was that he too took advantage of God’s favour that he had received to make himself useful. As the account shows, God gave Joseph success in everything he did. But could He have given him success, if he was not doing anything at all? No! It is someone that is working, taking on responsibilities and challenges, that God can give success to. But the one that is lazy or slothful, who is constantly looking for a way to avoid responsibilities where he lives or works, is only fooling himself, if he is expecting God to make him successful in life. How will that happen? In exactly what way will God make him successful?
Joseph was busy in Potiphar’s house. He was not lazy or slothful. He was not running away responsibilities or work challenges. So, in everything he set out to do, God made sure he succeeded. Then when his master saw that he succeeded in handling whatever task he was given, he kept giving more and more responsibilities until he handed everything about his household over to him. And did he regret doing this? Not at all! As the bible tells us, from the time he put Joseph in charge of all his household, God made him exceedingly prosperous. You can, then, imagine how this man must have felt when he eventually lost him to intrigues of his wife and had him imprisoned.
In any case, even in the prison, Joseph did not allow himself to become useless. Why? It was because he knew that God was with him and was able to make him successful there too, if he would settle down to work and make himself useful to the people there. And that was exactly what happened? First, God again made him find favour in the eyes of the prison warden. Second, as he gave himself to handling whatever task that was given to him there diligently, God made sure he succeeded at it. Before long, then, the prison warden could no longer do without him – he just literally put him in charge of everything going on in the prison and found something else for himself to do. And it was while Joseph continued to labour to make himself more and more useful to those in the prison with him that he met the man that God eventually used to bring him to greatness. (Cf. Gen 39-41)
Now I am sure you too want to become great in life in some way. But you must understand that great people are useful and not useless people. They are individuals that move things and make things better wherever they are, not individuals who are constantly seeking ways to excuse themselves from responsibilities. So, if you really want to attain that great height you desire in life, don’t just ask for God’s favour; also make yourself useful in that low place where you are now. Let those around you see that you can be trusted with tasks, people and resources. Work so hard and diligently that they will have that feeling in them that if you are around, certain things will not be left unattended to or allowed to get spoilt. That way, God’s favour on your life will not be wasted but be made to work for your advantage.
And remember this: People may not like you for any reason whatsoever. But if you are useful and profitable, they have an excuse to keep you around them. But even if people are in love with you, and you are useless and incapable of adding value to their lives, at some point, they will find a way to separate themselves from you. So, wake up and begin to cultivate those virtues that will make you increase in usefulness day by day.
By: J.O. Lawal | Date: October 14, 2020 | Series: Youth for Jesus | Number: Vol. 3, No. 22
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