Rewards as a Profitable Servant

Text: Genesis 39:4-6

“And Joseph found grace (favor) in his (Potiphar’s) sight… that the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake…” (Genesis 39:4-5)

To find grace in the master’s sight is to find favor in the master’s sight. It means you have been noticed by him; selected and separated by him for a special position to him; and that you are to receive rewards from him.

In Joseph’s case, Potiphar came to show favor to Joseph for several reasons: he saw God was with Joseph; he saw that God had made Joseph prosperous in all that he set his hand to do; and he wanted to be blessed by Joseph’s expertise in his house and in his field.

Therefore, he made Joseph his personal servant and “made him overseer over his house” (Genesis 39:4). This means that Joseph was placed over Potiphar’s household activities (the running, or managing, of his personal household; the upkeep of the house and all therein). Potiphar also made him overseer of his field, over his farming activities. Therefore, Joseph was a steward over all Potiphar had – both house and field. Potiphar trusted Joseph completely with his finances, etc. “And he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand.” (See Genesis 39:5-6b.)

This is an absolute miracle of God. Joseph was a young man, around 17 to 20 years of age. This kind of action by Potiphar was unheard of; that is, putting Joseph, a young man, in charge of all that he owned, “and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat” (Genesis 39:6b).

But Reader, this only reveals, when a Child of God is in the Center of God’s Will – not rebellious, but is a submissive servant carrying out his duties as unto the Lord – what great reward can be had by the servant.

Not only was Joseph blessed, but Genesis 39:5 says, “the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.”

God’s purposes are many; they are past our understanding. But in it all, Joseph’s blessing and Potiphar’s blessing; it was all to show God’s Power working in Child of God’s life, and the rewards and results to the Child of God, and even to those with whom the Child of God is connected. It was all for (or because of) Joseph’s sake, that God blessed Potiphar’s house and field.

So it is today in Christ. The people of God are blessed for Christ’s sake, not because of their goodness or righteousness or merits of works – for outside of Christ, none are righteous, “no, not one,” for all have “come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:10-23). Christ is our Righteousness, the end of the Law (Romans 10:4).

Why? Read the following Scriptures:

“Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” (Romans 3:19)

“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” (Romans 3:20)

“But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;” (Romans 3:21)

“Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:” (Romans 3:22)

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23)

“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:” (Romans 3:24)

“Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;” (Romans 3:25)

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:” (Romans 5:1)

“By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” (Romans 5:2)

That is in Christ’s work in the Atonement for our sins, on the Cross as our Sacrifice, Substitute, and Savior.

No, it is not our works of righteousness (see Romans 3:21-31; Galatians 2:16; Titus 3:5):

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;” (Titus 3:5)

But, it is the work of the King of Righteousness (Hebrews 7:2); and this Righteousness is revealed in the Gospel of Christ.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:16-17)

“Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;” (Romans 3:25)

“Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.” (Romans 5:18)

“That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 5:21)

“And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” (Romans 8:10)

“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” (Romans 10:4)

“But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:” (1 Corinthians 1:30)

“And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:” (Philippians 3:9)

Therefore, one can conclude without doubt, according to the Scriptural evidence printed above, we that are saved and are blessed by and through Jesus Christ – for His Sake, His Merits, His Atonement – and not our own.

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” (Ephesians 1:7)

It was because of Christ’s obedience to the death of the Cross (or the Atonement on the Cross) that we are blessed in our house and in our field and in our spirit. “He served him” – He was the Perfect Servant of God, the Perfect Lamb of God (John 1:29), in whom was no sin:

“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15)

Yet He became sin for us (or was our Substitute on the Cross); that we might become the Righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21).

It was Christ who came as the Servant of God:

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:” (Philippians 2:5)

“Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:” (Philippians 2:6)

“But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:” (Philippians 2:7)

“And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2:8)

“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:” (Philippians 2:9)

“That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;” (Philippians 2:10)

“And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:11)

“Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.” (Matthew 12:18)

And He (Christ) served Him (the Father God) in life and in death.

The proof is in His Resurrection; raised as King Jesus, victorious over sin, hell, and the grave (Romans 1:4; 1 Corinthians 15:1-22), in whom all blessing flow (Galatians 3:14-29).

The secret to rewards in the valley is, like Joseph – not only, “And Joseph found grace in his sight” (Genesis 39:4a); yes, we must be in Christ, regenerated, indwelt by God the Spirit – but we also must be servants and walk even as Christ walked, “and he served him.”

We must be obedient to our Master, Christ. We must walk in Love, in the Light, circumspectly, filled with God the Spirit, praising Him, and in submission one to another (Ephesians 5:1-33). Then, and then only, are we rewarded; not to become righteous – No, a thousand times No – but we do to reveal we are righteous in Christ.

So it was with Joseph; and so it is with the saved overcomer today:

“And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” (Romans 8:17)

“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” (1 John 5:4)

“Our faith” is Christ, who is The Faith. (Hallelujah!)

The servant’s attitude and actions must be lodged in the Love of God. And when it is, then and only then, is the Steward found to be Faithful. And he that is Faithful is Rewarded;

“His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” (Matthew 25:21)

The Lord’s Prayer in John 17 ends with His Perfect Will for the saved:

“That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” (John 17:21)

“And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:” (John 17:22)

“I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.” (John 17:23)

“Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.” (John 17:24)