Have you ever wanted to do something big for God? Do you sense Him tugging at your heart? Have you ever wanted to serve your local church, or your community? If you’ve ever found yourself longing to do something that has eternal significance, you’re not alone.
The book of Ecclesiastes says: “He also has planted eternity in men’s hearts and minds [a divinely implanted sense of a purpose working through the ages which nothing under the sun but God alone can satisfy], yet so that men cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11 AMPC)
In other words, we were created with a desire to do something of eternal significance. In fact, if we fail to or neglect to accomplish eternal things, it will begin to bother us. Because of this, God, through His spirit, is constantly tapping us on the shoulder. He is frequently whispering in our ear. What is He saying? It’s different for everybody but it does have a common thread. Whatever IT is, it will have eternal significance. It will impact The Kingdom of God. It will impact people.
Maybe the Lord has asked you to donate money to someone or something. Perhaps He has urged you to share your faith with your co-worker. Maybe He keeps speaking to you about volunteering at your church. Whatever it is, GET AT IT! What are you waiting for?! Why are you hesitating?! Someone’s eternal destination could be on the line. Somebody’s next meal could be relying on your action. In other words, why haven’t you done it yet?
Many of us fail to start because God is not the only one speaking to us. The enemy and our own conscience are talking as well. And unfortunately, what they have to say is not as positive and motivational. We often hear things like “you’re not able”, “you’re not good enough”, “you don’t have that talent”, or “God can’t use YOU”. Too often our own sins and shortcomings weigh us down so much that we never feel capable of being used by God.
Scripture teaches “For many are called, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:14 NLT). If many are called to do eternal things, and if we all have that divine sense of purpose in our hearts, why are only a few chosen? It’s because a vast majority of us allow the weight of sin and shortcomings to stop us from ever starting. That’s why it’s so important for us to learn from the examples of the great heroes of faith found in the Bible. They too were called. They too had many sins and shortcomings. But they were chosen.
As we read and learn about them, we find out how they positioned themselves to be chosen to do things of eternal significance. Take Joseph for example. What can we learn from him? Why was God able to use him to minister to his family, and save Egypt from a great famine, among other things?
Joseph was chosen because he understood the importance of forgiveness.
The Bible has a lot to say about forgiveness. Here are just a few examples:
Forgive others the way God forgave us:“Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32 NLT)
Forgive others before praying:“But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.” (Mark 11:25 NLT)
Never stop forgiving:“Even if that person wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, you must forgive.” (Luke 17:4 NLT)
Joseph understood the power of forgiveness even before Jesus ever existed on Earth. We see this is in how he forgave his brothers for trying to kill him, for throwing him into a pit, and then selling him to slave traders. We see this in how he forgave Potiphar’s wife for trying to take advantage of him. And we see this in how he forgave a prison mate for breaking a promise.
Genesis 37:18 says, “When Joseph’s brothers saw him coming, they recognized him in the distance. As he approached, they made plans to kill him.” It then says that instead of killing him, “his brothers ripped off the beautiful robe he was wearing. Then they grabbed him and threw him into the cistern.” (Genesis 37:23-24). And if all of this treatment wasn’t enough, his brothers finally sold him to slave traders. “Instead of hurting him, let’s sell him to those Ishmaelite traders.” (Genesis 37:27).
As the story goes on, we never find Joseph plotting how he could get back at his brothers. We have no record of him wallowing in self-pity and loathing in bitterness towards his brothers. There is no account of him telling everyone he came in contact with how terrible his family was. No, Joseph took his licks and kept on being faithful to the one who never left him.
Joseph was faithful to God by demonstrating the power of forgiveness.
As we progress through Joseph’s story we come to where Joseph was sold to Potiphar, an Egyptian officer. While under his employment as overseer of Potiphar’s household, his wife, made a move on Joseph. “Joseph was a very handsome and well-built young man, and Potiphar’s wife soon began to look at him lustfully.” (Genesis 39-6-7 NLT). She then makes a move on Joseph, which he rejects. She becomes enraged, grabs a piece of his clothing and tells the authorities that Joseph tried to take advantage of her. Potiphar had Joseph thrown into prison as a result of her lie and accusation.
Again, Joseph had every reason to be upset. He had plenty of trials he could complain about. He had been betrayed by his brothers, and now was wrongfully accused of a heinous act. He was never given a fair trial and was tossed into prison like a common criminal. Yet Joseph never murmured, he never complained, he never bad-mouthed his brothers or Potiphar’s wife. And he didn’t harbor unforgiveness. Joseph knew that bitterness was too heavy a burden to bear. He had been called by God to do something of eternal significance and sensed that calling deep within his heart.
Finally, while in prison, Joseph again used the gift that God had given him to interpret dreams. He did so for two of his cellmates. While in prison with Joseph, the Pharaoh’s cup bearer and baker both had separate dreams. However, neither one of them understood what their dreams meant. Joseph, eager to serve God and to use the gift that the Lord had given him, encouraged the men to share their dreams. This way Joseph could interpret their dreams for them. When Joseph interpreted the chief cup bearer’s dream, he asked a favor of him. He said, “And please remember me and do me a favor when things go well for you. Mention me to Pharaoh, so he might let me out of this place. For I was kidnapped from my homeland, the land of the Hebrews, and now I’m here in prison, but did nothing to deserve it.” (Genesis 40:14-15 NLT).
While Joseph kept his end of the bargain by interpreting the chief cup bearer’s dream, the cup bearer was not so faithful. The story says, “Pharaoh’s chief cup-bearer, however, forgot all about Joseph, never giving him another thought.” (Genesis 40:23). Despite the fact that the man didn’t initially keep his word to Joseph, Joseph never became bitter, not resented the cup bearer, and never harbored unforgiveness. How do we know this? We have no record of Joseph complaining, throwing a fit, or trying to get even with him.
Despite the fact that Joseph was betrayed by his family, lied about by Potiphar’s wife, and neglected by the cup bearer, he never adopted a bitter disposition. He never embraced the poison of unforgiveness. He took no account of a wrongdoing. Instead, Joseph maintained his walk with God, honored him by extending forgiveness to others, and continued in the eternal calling God had placed on his life. In particular, he continued interpreting dreams and serving the people God had given him to serve.
While many were called to serve, Joseph was chosen. He was chosen because he understood the value of forgiveness, and he practiced it in his life. Had Joseph decided to wallow in bitterness, he would have focused on his hurt. Then he wouldn’t have had time, attention, or energy to interpret others’ dreams. In fact, he might have even refused to interpret dreams as a way to “get even” with his offenders.
Instead, Joseph was elevated to the position of ruler of Egypt. He helped the nation survive a great famine. He was reconciled with his family. And it was said of him that “The Lord was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did.” (Genesis 39:2 NLT)
Would you like to fulfill what God has called you to do? Would you like to answer the still small voice that is leading you towards eternal things? Would you like to position yourself to serve your local church? How about your community?
You must learn the value of forgiveness.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.” It is said that unforgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. Remember that unforgiveness erodes the container that it is stored in, and that container is the human heart.
Guard your heart.
Walk in forgiveness.
Position yourself to be chosen and walk out whatever God is calling you to do.