"TRUSTED BECAUSE HE WAS TRUSTWORTHY!"

GENESIS 39:1-23

Because of his father's favoritism, his brothers' jealousy grew into loathing. They plotted against the boy and finally sold him secretly to a band of traders who carted him off to Egypt where he became the slave of Pharaoh's chief officer, Potiphar. Instead of feeling sorry for himself and going into a deep depression, Joseph made the most of the situation and God was with him, prospering all that he did. He became a trusted servant in Potiphar's household, far above all the other slaves. Unfortunately, Potiphar's wife cast a wistful eye upon the handsome young Israelite. The scenario became one of lust, desire, scheming, attempted seduction, rejection, and revenge. Joseph showed his true mettle and proved that he could be trusted because he was trustworthy. He reminds me of a young man by the name of J.H. Crowell who, when he was but 16, shipped out on a boat with a crew of 12. He was the only Christian in the group. Before he left home he promised his mother that he would stay close to the Lord and that he would pray at least 3 times a day, regularly. It was her desire, and his, that amid the unsaved crew he would maintain his faith, integrity, and wholesomeness. The crew set before him all sorts of testings and temptations, but J.H. Crowell showed his trustworthiness. What is there in the make-up and character of this young man and in that of Biblical Joseph that is characteristic of trustworthiness?

• JOSEPH REFUSED TO COMPROMISE BECAUSE HE WANTED TO DO RIGHT: VV9-10:
• Some might say, "What's the matter with you, Joseph? What a golden opportunity! Think of the pleasure! Nobody would ever know! It would be a secret! Why not go along with her and have a good time?"
• But Joseph, who lived 400 years before the Law forbidding adultery and coveting another man's wife, had a correct moral compass and he refused!
• He refused to make provision for the flesh!
• He refused to dally with temptation.
• He refused to give in to his physical passions!
• He refused to violate this sensuous woman!
• He refused to cheat his master!
• He refused to disobey God!
• He refused to compromise -- because he wanted to do right.
• Let me share with you (especially you young people) a 5-fold commitment to make in the midst of today's loose sexual climate: If you want to be trusted and trustworthy:
• Make a commitment to the other person that you will recognize that he or she is not an object of your own pleasure.
• Make a commitment to the other person's parents that they can trust you with their most prized treasure. If you are dealing with a married person, make a commitment to their spouse that you won't violate their exclusive relationship.
• Make a commitment to your parents to keep your own body pure and clean. If you are a married individual, make a commitment to your spouse that you will honor and live by the sacred vows that bound you in marriage.
• Make a commitment to yourself not to lower your standards or violate your convictions or destroy your conscience.
• Make a commitment to God to honor your body as His temple and His Word as your standard.
• Paul wrote, "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts." Romans 13:14.
• That means don't spend time at the magazine rack in the porno sections; don't spend time on the Net surfing X rated sites or on the TV watching immoral sitcoms.
• That means, as Peter wrote, "Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul." 1 Peter 2:11.
• That means, as Paul wrote, "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh." Galatians 5:16.

Though the crew of that sailing vessel tried everything in their power to destroy Crowell's walk with the Lord, he refused to compromise. They teased him, they mocked him, they threw blocks of wood at him while he prayed, they even dumped buckets of water on him. And things would get worse for this young man. But he held to his integrity, he kept his faith, and was true to his word that he would spend time with the Lord at the throne of grace every day. He walked in the steps of another young man, Joseph, who lived in Egypt and whose faith and morality was assailed by Potiphar's wife. We see in Joseph another characteristic of trustworthiness:

• JOSEPH RECEIVED THE CONSEQUENCES FOR DOING RIGHT: VV14, 20:
• They say there is no wrath like that of a woman spurned. Joseph was about to taste her wrath. She was ticked, miffed, slighted, rejected, and she would not take that lightly. Her passion turned to rage and she devised what she thought would be his downfall.
• While Joseph maintained his purity, integrity, honor and virtue, (the lasting values) he lost the temporal commodities:
• His position in the house. From respected servant to non-entity. His prestige went down the drain.
• His reputation. His master had trusted him, now his name was trashed in his eyes.
• His freedom. Though he had been a slave, he had relative self-governance. Now he's in the slammer.
• We may suffer for doing what is right! There is no assurance that God will put an invisible shield up around us.
• John 15:20 "Remember the word that I said to you, A slave is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also."
• 2 Timothy 3:12 "And indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."
• 1 Peter 3:17 "For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong."
• 1 Peter 4:12-14 "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you."
• This is not a reality that is so far removed from us, either. Remember Cassie Bernall of Columbine High School who was asked by her assailant, "Do you believe in God?" She said, "Yes, I believe!" And he mortally wounded her in cold blood.

The sailors persecuted Crowell and tried to destroy his faith. But when their taunts did not swerve him from his daily prayer and his consistent walk with Christ, they got even more cruel. They tied him to the mast and beat him; still he prayed. Then they tied a rope around his waist and tossed him overboard. He swam as well as he could but his strength was fast ebbing. Joseph, too, was treated to injustice and cruelty. All because he, like J.H. Crowell, was trying to be trustworthy. Yet both of these stories will have a positive conclusion:

• JOSEPH REALIZED THE COMPENSATION FOR DOING RIGHT: VV21-23:
• There were three phases to his compensation:
• The immediate: he was given honor by the jailer.
• The subsequent: he was raised by Pharaoh himself to be Number 2 Honcho in all the land.
• The ultimate: he was recognized in heaven by the Father Himself. Check Hebrews 11 where Joseph was listed among those who represent faith.
• It may not always work out just like that:
• We may lose our position and never regain it.
• We may lose our fortune and die in poverty.
• We may lose our freedom and die in bondage.
• We may lose our family and die in isolation.
• But the greatest compensation is not material or social or physical. It is the recognition, the reward and the recompense God Himself bestows.
• Ecclesiastes 8:12 "Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and may lengthen his life, still I know that it will be well for those who fear God, who fear Him openly."
• Psalms 37:5, 6 "Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it. And He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your judgment as the noonday."
• Matthew 5:10-12 "Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when men cast insults at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me. Rejoice, and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
• Romans 8:16, 7 "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him."
• 1 Peter 2:20 "For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God."
• 1 Peter 5:10 "And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you."
• Who does God's work will get God's pay, However long may seem the day, However weary be the way; Though powers and princes thunder "Nay," Who does God's work will get God's pay. He does not pay as others pay, In gold or land or raiment gay; In goods that vanish and decay; But God in wisdom knows a way, And that is sure, let come what may, Who does God's work will get God's pay. (Anonymous).

As J.H. Crowell's strength ebbed, and the sailors taunted, he called out, "Send my body to my mother, and tell her I died for Jesus." They pulled him from the water, unconscious, but miraculously he revived. The sailors had a new admiration for the boy. Some of them became believers shortly, including the captain. J.H. Crowell was trustworthy! The Lord calls us each to be trustworthy. I don't know the temptation you face. It may not be sexual. It may not be mistreatment for your faith. It may be in the realm of honesty, or speech, or thoughts. I do know that we are all tempted in areas where we are prone to fall. But the promise is sure, "No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:13. Suffering may come for doing right, but it is temporary trouble. Compensation will surely come, and it's everlasting. You can never do wrong and come out right, but you will never go wrong doing right. Will you be like Joseph? Will you stand for what is right? Will you earn the right to be trusted because you have proven to be trustworthy? Determine to be faithful, true, loyal, and trustworthy as you determine to live all of life for Christ.

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