And the patriarchs,
becoming envious, sold Joseph into Egypt. But God was with him and delivered
him out of all his troubles, and gave him favor and wisdom in the presence of
Pharaoh, king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house. Acts 7:9–10
It is important for you to
recognize that there is a significant difference between God’s
unmerited favor and favoritism. God’s unmerited favor is
based entirely on Jesus’ merit, and we received it through His finished work at
the cross. We did nothing to deserve His favor. It is completely unmerited.
Favoritism, however, stinks of self-effort. Individuals who rely on favoritism
for promotion have to resort to apple polishing, office politics, manipulative
tactics, backstabbing, and all kinds of compromises just to get what they want.
They use all their efforts to open doors for themselves, and in the process,
they lose themselves.
God has a higher and better
way for you. It hurts Him to see His precious children groveling like
sycophants just to get ahead in life. If a door closes, so be it! Believe with
full confidence that God has a better way for you. You do not have to depend on
favoritism to keep opportunities open for yourself when you have God’s
unmerited favor!
That was how Joseph
operated. He depended on the Lord for his success, and not on favoritism, which
would have required him to compromise his beliefs. When Potiphar’s wife, who
was likely one of the most beautiful women in the land, kept trying to seduce
Joseph to sleep with her, Joseph stood his ground on the firm foundation of
unmerited favor.
He refused, saying, “There
is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he [Potiphar] kept back
anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this
great wickedness, and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9).
From his words, it is clear
that Joseph knew the source of his success, favor, and blessings. He did not
see giving in to Potiphar’s wife as a great wickedness and sin against Potiphar
alone, but against God too. He knew that every blessing that he had experienced
was a result of the Lord’s favor on him. He knew that it was
not Potiphar who promoted him from the position of a lowly slave to become the
overseer of Potiphar’s entire estate. It was the Lord!
Similarly in your life,
know and rejoice that it is the Lord who is the source of your blessings and
success! You don’t have to resort to trying to win the favor of significant
people in your life. It is the Lord’s favor on you that sets you up for
recognition, promotion and increase. (Article & Picture; courtesy of Joseph
Prince Ministries used with kind permission).
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