Gtcotr/ss011225
Sometimes the weather is clear and sometimes it is cloudy. Sometimes we can see a long, long way, and sometimes the next step is foggy. Sometimes we feel like we don’t have a care in the world while at other times worry, fear, hurt or pain tries to consume us and drag us down into a pit of sadness and despair.
Life has its ups and downs. Most of the time they are manageable but sometime life can become extreme. People do get extremely blessed and the same people at different moments seem to experience extreme difficulties. There is a definite circle of life – things begin and things end. There is also a cycle of life – in between the beginning and then end, life has it’s ups and downs.
And, there is also a secret of life:
Throughout history and confirmed over and again in the Bible, it’s what we do in the good times that determines how we do in the tough times. What we do in the sunshine will affect how we do in the dark. What we do when we have much will determine how we do when we have little.
God has established a spiritual law that governs life. The secret of life says: What we do in seasons of plenty will determine how we do in times of lack.
This law is validated in the abundance of scripture and testimony given on this subject. None more confirming than the life of Joseph, the son of Jacob. Before we take a brief look at his life, allow me to read a few verses which highlight an encouraging word from Gos meant for you and me.
Deuteronomy 8 NKJV
10 ¶ “When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land which He has given you.
11 “Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today,
12 “lest — when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them;
13 “and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied;
14 “when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;
15 “who led you through that great and terrible wilderness, in which were fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty land where there was no water; who brought water for you out of the flinty rock;
16 “who fed you in the wilderness with manna, which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do you good in the end —"
God’s goal is to do you good in the end … but there will be some tests along the way. One of the more difficult tests we face is all the goodness and blessings that come to those who choose and follow the Lord -
The Blessing Test
17 “then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’
18 “And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
19 “Then it shall be, if you by any means forget the LORD your God, and follow other gods, and serve them and worship them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish.
20 “As the nations which the LORD destroys before you, so you shall perish, because you would not be obedient to the voice of the LORD your God.”
The Word of God this morning is speaking directly to individuals, families, communities and to the nations of the world. God has not exempted the United States of America or Southeast Texas or wherever you live from obeying His voice. Today is not just a test but an opportunity to live up to the expectations God has for us. And, What we do in the good times will determine how we do in the tough times. As I said earlier, the best example of this is seen in the life of Joseph. Let’s look at his success.
Genesis 41 NKJV
46 ¶ Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.
47 Now in the seven plentiful years the ground brought forth abundantly.
48 So he gathered up all the food of the seven years which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities; he laid up in every city the food of the fields which surrounded them.
49 Joseph gathered very much grain, as the sand of the sea, until he stopped counting, for it was immeasurable.
53 Then the seven years of plenty which were in the land of Egypt ended,
54 and the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said. The famine was in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.
57 So all countries came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, because the famine was severe in all lands.
I want to encourage you to read the whole account of the life of Joseph in Genesis. In order to get the full story why not read the whole book? There are only 50 chapters in all. It’s a great read and there are still 19 days left in January. If you’ll just read 3 chapters a day it will only take about 15 minutes out of each day, and you’ll finish the whole Book of Genesis in only 17 days.
Even if you miss a day or two along the way, you can easily finish before the end of January and start the Book of Exodus on February 1st. (Skip Leviticus in March and go directly to Numbers … if you continue, by the time summer gets here, you’ll be a new person – and better equipped to handle the ups and downs of life.)
Ok, back to Joseph. What he did in his good times determined how he did in his bad times. If you’re not close to God in clear weather, how will you hear his voice in the storm.
Joseph represents each one of us who are set to experience good and fruitful seasons in life … times when things are going well, clear skies and smooth sailing. In fact, I believe we are in for some good times in our nation and in the world. I know not everyone and not everything will be absent some trials, tests and traumas in this approaching season. However, by and large, blessings and abundance are yet ahead.
I believe God is giving us time to draw close to Him. I feel like there is a season of good times ahead and there will be God-given opportunities to draw closer to Him. As well, I know the devil works on human nature to imagine increase equals success. Don’t mistake the blessings of God for approval or as a mark of your own intelligence. Blessings are opportunities.
Luke 12:48 “… to whom much is given, much is required …”
The greater the blessing, the greater the responsibility. My prayer, and God’s hope is that you would not be able to consume all of the harvest of your fields. Draw closer to God; Save some for a rainy day; Find a way to be a blessing to others.
What you do in the good times will determine how you do in the bad times. What you compromise to get, you cannot keep. Take time to draw closer to God before the storm and hold on for dear life. Blessings are opportunities. Be thankful; Be responsible; and Trust God!
