Good morning, dear friendAlready for several weeks I have been sharing the word about the power of favour. I hope these messages encourage you to examine your lives so you are able to enjoy God’s blessings.Today I would like to close this theme with the following statement:If you want to enjoy God’s favour you must develop godly character.We have found how the law of sowing and reaping, as well as our gratitude, works to release the power of God’s favour in our lives. The last point I would like you to pay attention to is how a person’s character can slow down or speed up the favour of God in his or her life.If you want to have success with God or with people, you should become a person of godly character.Joseph, whom we have mentioned many times, was a man with godly character. He was a pious and God-loving person; he was a reliable and honest man who could be trusted by people. That is why Potiphar had trusted him with all his estate without even having a thought of Joseph betraying or leaving him.
“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.
The LORD was with Joseph and 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. 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. 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. Now Joseph was well-built and handsome,” (Gen.39:1-6)
After realizing that there was no one as trustworthy as Joseph, Potiphar put him in charge of the household and estate.Joseph not only faithfully stayed to serve his master but even increased his estate and multiplied the resources of his boss. Joseph was a good steward.Skills are very important and can take a person so far, but combined with good character they can take him much farther.There are plenty of people who have different skills and talents. But there is a lack of character in many talented and skilled people.There are many talented people in the business world, but you cannot trust them with important things, as they are not honest. If you are a person with a shady character, people will find it hard to trust you. And if people cannot trust in you, you are robbing yourself of favour.Skills can move you forward in life, but only character will help you to stay in your promoted position.There are many people who have been sacked and many students who have been expelled from school, not because they did not have skill, but because of the lack of character. They are either inconstant, unreliable, dishonest, or do not keep their word.Character is not a gift but a matter of your choice. Everyone is responsible for the development of their character.Joseph developed his character. He did not allow circumstances to influence his faith in God or his relationship with people. Joseph had always served others regardless of how he was treated. Joseph kept his own heart and sustained his pious character.Joseph’s character opened many doors for him, and thanks to this character he enjoyed great favours in his life. Joseph had favour with God and with man, even in situations where things seemed to be impossible.May God’s favour be manifested in your life more and more, in Jesus’ name!May God’s peace rest on you!Pastor Rufus
