And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; Genesis 38:2
Recently I was at the annual gathering of a church-oriented charitable foundation. Each year we meet to talk about what it really means to help people who are in need and how to do it more effectively.
There are always some great Bible-focused workshops. We look at lots of Bible characters and situations to see how problems were solved then when people put God first in their lives. It’s always amazing to me when we talk about a particular Bible story (that I have read hundreds of times) and I get a whole new insight because of the questions asked or comments made by others.
For example:
At one particular workshop, we were grouped by the role we play in the foundation. I am treasurer for my local area’s group. So I was at a table of other treasurers. Here are the questions we were asked: Which Biblical model would you choose to do your job? Who in the Bible would you choose as a role model for how you do your job as treasurer?
I had never thought of that before. I had always tried to do the job with honesty, integrity, promptness and other moral and spiritual qualities. But I had never had the idea to pattern my work after a particular Bible character.
What Bible character would make a good treasurer?
The first one that came to mind was Joseph in the Book of Genesis.
I have always loved the story where Joseph overcomes the animosity of his brothers, the deceit of Potiphar’s wife, the injustice of being in prison, all to become Pharaoh’s right hand man and save Egypt and the surrounding area from starvation during the famine.
I had never thought of Joseph as a “treasurer.” Nor did I relate to him in my role as treasurer.
But think about it. He was a great treasurer. He was wise with use of resources. Whether the economy was up or down, he looked to God for direction and planned ahead. I could go on and on, but you get the idea.
So, now I am trying to model Joseph’s life as I go about being a treasurer for this organization. It gives me a whole new way to look at what I do.
Then I got to thinking.
What about the other roles I have in daily life? Being a husband, for example.
What Bible character would I choose as a role model for being the best husband I can be?
I thought of another Joseph–but in the New Testament–Mary’s husband.
Let’s face it, this Joseph also had some interesting cards dealt him. I’ve talked about this in a previous post . Joseph was a righteous man and wanted to do what was right when he found out that Mary was pregnant. He was going to put her away quietly so as not to bring any more attention to her. Mary tried to explain things to him, but he just couldn’t accept what she was telling him.
But God sent Joseph an angel explaining everything to him. The wonderful thing is that Joseph was receptive to what God revealed to him and did as God instructed him.
That is the role model I want to follow for being a husband. Follow my highest sense of what is right. Don’t do something just because my wife tells me too. (I have done that sometimes just to keep the peace, but it is not productive in the long term because I am obeying a person instead of God.) I must be willing to listen to God’s angels and do what God directs me to do.
And I must confess, a lot of times my wife is right. But I need to get my marching orders from God and not her–even if they are both saying the same thing.
What Bible character would you want to hire to do your job?
So take a moment or two and think about some of the roles you fill in your daily life.
What Bible character will you strive to follow as an example for your role at work, at home, at church, etc.?
I’d love to hear your ideas.
As always–Blessings!
James
