TEMPORARY GAINS AND PERMANENT LOSSES.
Genesis 39:1-6
So Potiphar gave Joseph complete administrative responsibility over everything he owned. With Joseph there, he didn’t worry about a thing—except what kind of food to eat! Genesis 39:1 (NLT)
In life, it is very important to know that the extent to which you are trusted determines the extent you can be entrusted. This means, the extent to which you are trusted by God and man is a major factor in determining your level of entrustment by both God and man.
Opportunity, most times, is a product of trust. Our anchor Scripture reveals that Potiphar gave Joseph complete administrative responsibility over everything he (Potiphar) had. With Joseph there, he didn’t worry about a thing—except what kind of food to eat. Potiphar gave Joseph everything and no penny missed. There are two major evils on earth today – the evil of mammon and the evil of immorality. Many people trade on human beings or sell human parts because of money. There are many lecturers that no matter what you write in their courses, you would not pass their examinations until you bribe them.
However, it is possible to make temporary gains and end up with permanent losses both in this world and in the world to come. If you are in doubt, ask Adam, who ate the fruit he was asked not to eat and lost a whole garden. When Adam ate the fruit he was forbidden to eat, he lost a whole garden with fruits he was licensed to eat. Similarly, Esau got the food for a moment but he lost his birth-right and his blessings forever. Gehazi also suffered a similar fate – he took the money he was not supposed to touch and acquired generational leprosy.
Judas Iscariot’s story was another disastrous case. He was the treasurer of the Ministry of Jesus Christ. He kept on stealing money from the bag. Nobody told him anything until he decided to sell the Master, Jesus Christ, just to get money. He lost his place, both on earth and in heaven.
Beloved, determine never to be like Esau, Gehazi or Judas Iscariot. It is possible to make temporary gains and end up with permanent losses both in this world and in the world to come. Refuse to make mammon or money your sole pursuit in life. Be contented with what you have. Seek first the Kingdom of God and its righteousness and all other things shall be added unto you.
PRAYER: Lord, I ask that You deliver me from the grip of mammon. Help me to seek first Your Kingdom in Jesus name.
