A MATTER OF ATTITUDE

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

"Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. He said to them, "Listen to this dream I had: We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it." His brothers said to him, "Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?" And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said. Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. "Listen," he said, "I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me." When he told his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him and said, "What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?" His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind." Genesis 37:5-11

From the earlier part of Chapter 37, we learned that Joseph was loved more than any of the other 11 sons of Jacob. In fact, Jacob made and presented a special robe for his beloved son, one that was adorned with many ornaments. In it, Joseph would definitely stand out, symbolic of his special place in Jacob’s heart. It was this favor that Jacob showed Joseph that led to the hatred and jealousy that burned deep within each of his other sons. We have examined the destructive nature of hate and jealousy in the prior devotional, "Hatred and Jealousy: The Destructive Duo".

In the passage above, we see the brother’s contempt for Joseph grow and fester, like a wound that is not treated properly and gets infected. Without proper attention, that infection will spread and grow more and more toxic…with potentially deadly results if not tended to. The sin infection inside of Joseph’s brothers was definitely spreading out of control…going from anger to hatred to rage…and soon to lead to deadly action.

So why were the brothers so angry with Joseph? Because he was loved by his father and got a special robe. Was that really reason to hate? Only if you’re selfish, conceited and self-centered. Then Joseph shares a dream in which he ends up being the leader of his brothers and parents. Once again, the brothers are incensed and jealous. Even his father, Jacob, rebuked him but we read that he later "kept the matter in hand." Jacob did this with a wisdom above his sons…way above because it wasn’t his wisdom but God’s that led him to see that there wasn’t any real big deal in what Joseph said. So what if he ended up being in a leadership position over his family. Not everyone can be in charge…and we need to just respect and acknowledge those who we fall underneath. It’s been said that to be a truly good leader, you first have to learn how to follow properly and with leadership being such a big part of my life, I can tell you that statement is true. Joseph’s brothers were not followers and with their attitudes, they weren’t real brothers either. The sad part is that this isn’t just restricted to Old Testament times.

Question: Have you ever envied someone so much that you actually despised that person? Did you finish second or third and resent the number one person instead of rejoicing in the fact that you were either second or third? Do you have a problem following someone else…choosing instead to reject and disrespect authority? Maybe this is touching a nerve.

For you see, we are a people who don’t like to be second. We want everything to revolve around us and when someone else gets favor we crave, we don’t handle that well. Like Joseph’s brothers, we begin to anger, then hate, then refuse to even acknowledge the favored one, and eventually maybe seek to plot and scheme against them. This plot need not involve injuring or killing physically but it could definitely involve injuring or killing someone emotionally by the things we say or do. How often do people seek to discredit someone so they can make themselves look better? Ever do that? Or have you ever been on the receiving end of treatment like that? It’s ugly, sinful, and displeasing to the Lord…believe that.

For the Lord would tell you that life is not a competition. He calls us to do things in accordance with His Will for us and we are to just respond in obedience, whether He calls us to lead or follow. How we respond to life situations is a matter of attitude, first and foremost. If we have the Lord in our heart and surrender to His will and way, then we will have a servant’s attitude and do whatever He calls us to do.

But if we have Satan in our heart, then we will respond in anger, hatred, resentfulness, jealousy, and/or envy…in other words, we respond in sin. We have a choice…and it’s a matter of attitude.
So the question today is, "What is your life attitude right now?" Do you live with an attitude of selfishness, egotism, and ungraciousness? Or do you live with an attitude of gratitude for all God has done for you, acknowledging His many blessings, goodness, mercy and grace? Do you rejoice in the blessings that others receive, even if it’s over you? Or do you envy, covet and resent others for getting things that you wish you would have gotten?

To wrap this up, here’s some thoughts to consider. Do you think that maybe Joseph’s brothers failed to gain favor because of their attitude? Do you think that God is really ready to bless those who adopt a sinful attitude over a holy one? Do you think that God will want to place people in the lead who can’t even begin to follow Him first? Now might be a good time to examine where you stand in regard to these matters. Right or wrong, it’s always a matter of attitude. Make yours match God’s always…and you can be assured to always finish first in His eyes…and that’s really all that counts in the end.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

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