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Visit our new blog. It lists all the new things that we are doing and what new material has been added to our site. We even list new missionaries who sign up with us for technical support so you can pray for them. FCM News

The Witness of Joseph the Slave

by Eric Decker

Joseph, though a slave, had an excellent witness for the Lord before Potiphar. This is seen in "his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper" (Genesis 39:3). This statement not only indicated that Joseph had an excellent witness for the Lord to Potiphar, but that the excellence of the witness had a lot to do with how well Joseph did his work. We noted earlier that Joseph worked so well he was promoted to overseer in Potiphar's house.

Here we note that his excellent work caused Potiphar to see the Lord in it all. If we want to give forth a good witness for the Lord, if we want to give evidence of His being with us and helping us, we cannot be slack in the performance of our duty. God may be with us and want to help us with our work; but if we are poor stewards of His presence and power, we will not "prosper" on the job, we will not do well in our work; and, as a result, we will not be a good witness for God. If Joseph had reacted poorly to his trial, adopted a complaining spirit, and had done his work half-heartedly, he would not have prospered in his work nor had a good testimony at all. He may have told Potiphar about God and his faith in God, but Potiphar would not have been impressed, for "faith without works is dead" (James 2:20) in a situation like that. Joseph's witness is both a rebuke and encouragement to the saints. It is a rebuke for those who claim to be Christian, but who on the job do not show it in their performance.

They do just enough to get by, work only when the boss or foreman is looking, loaf every chance they can, habitually stretch coffee breaks long beyond their intended time, gripe and complain incessantly, are often late to work (but are never late for quitting time), and seem more interested in their pay than in their performance. Such folk may attend the best of churches, pass out tracts to all their fellow workers, invite folk to church, and carry a Bible in their lunch pail: but they have no witness. If saints want an honorable witness for God, let them put quality in their work, be conscientious, have a cheerful and amiable spirit, be uncomplaining of extra hours and duties even if such are unfair or unjust, and be grateful for their pay even if it should and could be fore. Such will discover that their witness will be very pronounced even if they do not pass our tracts, carry a Bible in their lunch pail, continuously invite folk to church, and talk to their fellow workers about being saved.

Work habits say plenty. They can be a very strong witness for the Lord. Joseph's witness is an encouragement to those who think they lack opportunity and ability to witness because their daily duties are lowly. These think they must be famous, important or have a prestigious position to witness effectively for Christ. This attitude abounds in churches today. Thus celebrities from business, sports, and politics are paraded across church rostrums to say a good word for God. But this staged Christianity fills the poor, untalented, per-warmer with dismay.

How can he witness for Christ when he is a nobody? Joseph answers that question. Be faithful in your duties, though lowly you may be. It is the common duties of life more than the spectacular that really reveals your faith. Anyone can lip his loyalty to the Lord behind the lectern or the rostrum, but being loyal to the Lord in a lowly situation when few are looking is another story. How a farmer milks his cows may say more about his faith than his shouting conspicuous "Amen's" throughout the Pastor's sermons. You do not need to wear a button, or carry a big Bible, or cover your car with bumper stickers to witness your faith. If you are a Christian, if God is with you as you claim, it will show up well in the way you do your duties in the common round of life. In fact, if it does not show up there, your profession of faith is suspect, and your witness elsewhere is hypocritical.

All Glory and Honor to God