We Have A Choice

Read Genesis 39:1-6

Context: Joseph, the favorite son of Jacob, has been sold by his brothers to a passing caravan of Ishmaelites. They, in turn, sold him to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh's officials in Egypt.

Text:

1 Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh's officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there.
2 The LORD was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. 3 When his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did, 4 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. 5 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. 6 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. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

It's so easy to forget how good we have it in our lives. While we may not enjoy our jobs all the time, but we always have the option to leave and find something else. I don't want that to sound pat; it is currently taking people 6 - 12 months to find a new job, but the point is that we are not literally slaves to our bosses. We have options.

Joseph had options, too. He had the option to rebel, fight his master, and try to escape. He had the option to pout and hold a pity party because of what his family had done to him. But he chose the option of doing his very best and glorifying God with his efforts. The text says that God gave him success in all he did. Do you think that would have happened if Joseph wouldn't have been willing to work hard?

Even if your boss doesn't like you or is a tyrant, Peter tells us that it is commendable for us to bear up under unjust suffering because we are conscious of God.

Today, if you are tempted to rebel, pout, or just take it a little easier than you should, remember Joseph and his choice. God blesses us, too, when we give our all!