Joseph and Prosperity

(Today's reading - Gen 38-40; Matt 12:22-50)

Genesis 39 contains the story of Joseph and Potiphar. If you have been a Christian long you know the story, but if you haven't, it goes like this...

Potiphar bought Joseph from the men who had bought him from his brothers. Potiphar saw that Joseph was a God fearing man and that God blessed what Joseph did, so he put him in charge of his household. He was in charge of everything that Potiphar owed and he did a great job of looking after it. Potiphar's wife liked the way Joseph looked and sought to have a affair with him. Joseph refused and she accused him of attempted rape. Joseph went to prison for a crime he didn't commit. That is it in a nutshell.

So, what can a follower of God learn from a story like this? As we start reading, maybe we think that if we follow God, only good things will happen to us... The Lord was with Joseph so that 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. That is a message we like. If we follow God, only good things will come our way.

We love the idea that God prospers us financially when we follow him, but is that the message of this story? Let's keep reading... When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying, “This is how your slave treated me,” he burned with anger. Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined. Potiphar's wife makes up a the story of Joseph attempting to rape her. Based on the previous conclusions we had drawn, Joseph would be exonerated and the wife would go to prison for filing a false police report... right? Wrong!

But that is not what happens. Joseph goes to prison. Where is the LORD's blessing now? Where is prosperity now? Joseph did right and still he sits in a prison cell. Is God unjust? Are we not under his protection? Now, it gets a little more complicated; a good man, following God, doing what is right goes to prison. Do you guess Joseph lost his faith? Did he give up on God? When prosperity ended, did Joseph choose to end his relationship with the LORD?

I don't know about you, but for me this story is life affirming. I trust in God, I do my best to be obedient to His will; yet bad things still happen in my life. Is that my failure... or God's? If my world view is tied up in the idea that God blesses or punishes people here and now because of their actions, then I have to say it is one or the other. But if I hold that view, I am going to have a difficult time with the prosperity of those who totally reject God. You see, bad people also prosper. So, that cannot be the proper view of things.

If that is a wrong view, what is the right one? While I don't claim to have great understanding, I will give you my best thoughts based on these verses. Joseph lived by God's principles. This world is set up by God and so honesty, hard work, respecting others, etc. will bring good things into our lives... we call that God's blessing. This world is also corrupted; when sin entered the world, the world was forever changed. Murder, lying, stealing, sexual impurity... and on and on became the normal way of life. (Just start in Genesis 1 and keep reading) We are impacted by sin, even when it is not our sin. Live the best you can, follow God the best you can and you will still be impacted by sin. (just ask Jesus) Even in prison, Joseph continued to live for God and because of that, he was blessed. When we follow Him, we will be blessed; even in times of trouble and distress... blessings.

If someone is selling you the idea that following God brings only prosperity, they are lying to you. Cancer does not know the difference between a Christian and a non-Christian. The burglar doesn't know the difference between a Christian and a non-Christian. The person with an assault rifle shooting up a theater doesn't know the difference either. But, here you go... the world will know the difference when they see how the Christian responds to these troubles. When tough times come, and they will, the Christian responds differently. Cancer... hope and knowledge that this world is not our home. (2 Cor 5:1) Burglary... no problem, it is only possessions that can be replaced. (Matthew 6:19) Death at the hands of a shooter... do not fear the one who can kill the body. (Matthew 10:28)  

You see, prosperity is not the goal, it is the result. Follow God, prosperity. It may not be here and now, but is certain. The question that we need to ask is simple and complex... For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? (Mark 8:36-37) Prosperity... what child of the King isn't prospered? The most valuable thing you possess is an eternal soul. The question isn't homes, cars, flat screen televisions, nice clothing... the question isn't what do you own, the question is "who or what owns you?". Who does your life belong to? If God, then you have real prosperity. Home, eternal with the King. Now go tell it.