Title: Successful Man I / Genesis 37:5-11
Content Success refers to the achievement of a certain purpose or purpose.”
Therefore, no matter how wealthy, honorable, powerful you may have, health and beauty, if you do not have a will or purpose, you cannot achieve success.
Success comes more in difficult circumstances than in good ones.
Korea, which is currently under the IMF system, feels like it is blocked from success in all fields.
However, because our environment is difficult now, it can be seen that we have been given more opportunities to succeed. If we look at our difficult circumstances in a positive light, we can find what we have lost and lost, become better than before, and succeed. Therefore, today, let's think about what kind of person can be successful and how we should live in order to live with success.
First, you must become a person with a dream to succeed.
Dreams are the greatest asset and the food of success. Also, the dream is not to see today, but to see what will happen in the future. Therefore, successful people dream of the future and live by those dreams. In the text, Joseph dreamed of what would happen in the future. His dream was a revelation that he would become the head of an entire family. He believed that this dream would come true, and he spoke proudly of it.
If we have a dream, we have to tell it to people. When you speak of a dream, the dream becomes a poet in your heart and the goal of your life. Also, the dreamer must think concretely about it and picture it in his mind. As Jonathan Swift once said, "Vision can only do the impossible for those who can see the invisible." In other words, only those who can turn an invisible dream into a concrete blueprint can succeed and make the impossible possible.
And a person who has a dream must believe that the dream has already come true and act.
Jesus said, “I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (Mark 11:24). Therefore, a person who has a dream can live confidently no matter how difficult the environment is.
Second, suffering can come to the dreamer.
Just because you have a good dream does not mean that everything will come true. In the process of making your dreams come true, many pains and many difficulties will follow. Joseph had a dream that he would become the head of the whole family and told it to his brothers and his father. As a result, Joseph was hated by his brothers, and he suffered. In this way, God allows trials and sufferings to those who have dreams in order to create a vessel that can live a life worthy of that dream.
The Bible says, “If children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, for we must suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him” (Romans 8:17).
If we have a big dream, we have to endure the pain to become a vessel that can hold that dream. The dream also started a trial for Joseph. He was sold to an Egyptian merchant by his brothers. However, Joseph, who knew this suffering as God's will, kept his faith, and did not give up his dream, fell in love with Potiphar, the chief of Pharaoh's guard, and took charge of his household affairs.
Third, temptation also comes to those who have dreams.
Satan tempts people who live with dreams with material things, honor, authority, popularity, and reason. Joseph, who was sold as a slave to Potiphar's house, became the housekeeper because God was with him. But unexpectedly, Potiphar's wife's seducing hand reached out to him. Potiphar's wife fell in love with Joseph's appearance and sexually seduced him daily. But Joseph resolutely resisted her temptation.
At a time when his lust was burning in his youth, moreover, Joseph, who is a slave in a foreign country, where he cannot receive the love of his parents and brothers, resists the secret sexual temptation of his master's wife. He did not overcome temptation simply because of his courtesy to his master, but because of his faith in God, he endured the temptation that anyone could easily fall into. “There is no one greater in this house than me, and the master has kept nothing from me, but he has kept it from me, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great evil and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9). However, a strange thing happened to Joseph, who overcame temptation. He was framed by Potiphar's wife. Joseph was unfairly thrown into prison. In a way, this can be a terrifying state of being in the worst state while trying to do good. But we can also find the providence of God here.
Because because of this, Joseph was able to meet the king's high-ranking officials in prison, and eventually went to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. Therefore, even if we suffer ambiguous suffering, we should examine whether there is God's will in it.
When temptation comes, we must have faith that God is with us. God has promised to be with us. If only we are convinced of this, we will be able to endure the hardships we are currently experiencing, no matter how difficult it may be.
Fourth, those who do not give up on their dreams can succeed.
God first gives us dreams before giving us success. Those who do not give up their dreams no matter what persecution, hardship, or temptation comes, God will surely make them successful. Joseph kept his dream to the end even in difficult circumstances. Then God recognized him and blessed him. Regarding this, the Bible says, “The Lord was with Joseph, and the Lord made him prosper in everything” (Genesis 39:23).
At the age of 30, Joseph became the prime minister of Egypt, the most powerful nation of his time. And I brought my father and older brothers, who were starving to death due to a famine, to Egypt so that they could live in abundance. In this way, Joseph was able to become a good leader with the wisdom God gave him, be filial to his parents, and treat his brothers well. They also received the blessing of saving their own country. God exalted and blessed Joseph who had a dream, Joseph who spoke the dream, and Joseph who kept his dream.
A person with a dream never perishes. Let's all pray more, worship more, sing praises, be filled with the Holy Spirit, and live big dreams. In the name of the Lord, I pray in the name of the Lord that you will not give up on your dreams despite any persecution, hardships, and temptations, and that you will achieve all your dreams and become blessed and successful saints.
-Prayer-
Heavenly Father, thank you. Help us all to be like Joseph, dreaming, boasting, dreaming, and succeeding by keeping our dreams in the midst of pain and temptation. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.