"Prosperous Life"(Genesis 39: 19-23)

Genesis 39: 19-23

There are many ways to classify people, and one way to do this is by how prosperous a person is in the kingdom of God. We can further put them into one of three types of people of prosperous people.

 

1.       There are people who live in opposition to God. They cause much harm to others and themselves and although at times they may prosper, it is for a short time.

2.       There are people who live their lives without meaning. Their lives are self-centered, and their prosperity is for them only and short lived.

3.       There are people who live to please God. They bring blessings to everyone. Whatever they do, they do it for the glory of God and, consequently, God blesses their work and those around them also get to enjoy God’s blessings. However, they may go through rough times when their prosperity is not apparent, but in the end they and others are blessed richly.

Joseph was like the third kind of prosperous person. Joseph was a person who brought prosperity to everyone whom he encountered. He provided blessings to all even to those who had wished him harm and did not deserve to be blessed. Joseph endured many hardships but remained faithful to God and His commandments.

The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master.

Genesis 39:2 ESV

 From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had, in house and field. So he left all that he had in Joseph’s charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.

Genesis 39:5-6 ESV

Joseph was a sincere man. He was genuine to God and because of his sincerity with God, Joseph could accept all the difficulties in his life that came to him. Now, it was not easy for Joseph, he had to work at his sincerity. As a slave, he was honest and prospered, yet he was put into prison because of false accusations.

 As soon as his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him, “This is the way your servant treated me,” his anger was kindled. And Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison.

Genesis 39:19-20 ESV

 Faith is not a gamble. We know that the outcome will be good when we act faithfully. True faith is doing our work for God. We can be sure that God will use our good works for His kingdom, and we will be successful. That success may take time and involve sacrifices, but it is only when we act faithfully that we are truly successful. Joseph knew that turning away from God and His rules is a sin and it is better to be faithful to God.

 But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my charge. He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?”

Genesis 39:8-9 ESV

 Joseph feared God more than the pleasure of sin. In fact, he fled the temptation as if his life depended on it. Joseph did the right thing; however, he still went to prison even though he was innocent.

 Joseph’s story is like Jesus’ story. Jesus was executed for crimes he did not commit. He was hated by many and punished for doing what is right. Yet, Jesus always acted faithfully to God and did not compromise. He knew that God would do good things through His faithfulness and even change the punishment into some beneficial not just for Him, but for many others.

 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,

Romans 1:1 ESV

 And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.

Genesis 45:5 ESV

 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

Genesis 50:20 ESV

 Those who believe in God do not complain because they know that God is in control and God is using the painful circumstances to bring us and others closer to God. God’s plan is usually not apparent to us, but if we have the knowledge and accept that God’s plans are for good, we can overcome the difficulties.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28 ESV

We need to be victorious through the One who died on the cross. We need to live a purposeful life that renounces sin and strives to do the God's work if we want to be successful.