In a joke I heard this morning, the comedian talked about the two things people worry about, ultimately beginning with people who worry about their health, to the people who are sick, ultimately worrying about where they’d spend eternity. It was thought-provoking. What are the main things you worry about?
Today, we’ll examine four of those things from Genesis 45-46 as we examine Joseph’s life further.
When Pharaoh commanded Joseph to send for his dad and offered his family lodging in the best of all Egypt, I think the brothers thought, “This is a jackpot. We’ve been offered a nice place to stay.” Lodging is the first thing many people worry about. It’s the motivation for most people to go to work every day. The idea that they could be homeless if their mortgage or rent doesn’t get paid is enough to cause some people to work even when they’re sick or their family whom they love, needs them.
But that’s not the only thing Pharaoh offered. The Pharaoh offered them clothes. Now you know we love to wear the best clothes and don’t like being caught in rags. Clothes are the second thing people worry about: What will I wear to the mall, the bar, school, the business deal, etc.
But Pharaoh also offered another thing, donkeys and wagons, which is translated as the third thing people worry about: transportation, to carry their dad, the children, and women down to Egypt from Canaan. While some people would strive for a luxury car, most want to get from point A to point B safely.
The Fourth and final thing Pharaoh offered Jacob when he moved to Egypt was money in silver and gold. You say all the other things could be purchased if you hit the jackpot. But Jacob was being offered all these things to forget all his things and move to take on all that Egypt had to offer. Jacob took all he had with him.
The principle I want you to take away today is this:
Our relationship with God strongly determines our relationship with things this life has to offer, and this is what can take away much of our worries. There are times people worry about their health, and they also worry about being loved and accepted. That’s why the most significant business in our culture is “social media,” meeting the “connection” need, or all the hit or miss diet pills people are taking, seeking health. We worry about things that aren’t mentioned here too obviously, but the facts are clear: our faith, whether strong or weak, dictates how much we worry about all those things.
Here’s the Motivational moment;
When we find ourselves deeply longing for temporary and fleeting things, it’s important to reflect on our hearts and consider whether we’re shifting our focus away from what is truly essential—eternal and everlasting truths.
