Genesis 37:23-24, 28 - So it came about, when Joseph reached his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the varicolored tunic that was on him; and they took him and threw him into the pit…. Then some Midianite traders passed by, so they pulled him up and lifted Joseph out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. NASU
In our text today Joseph is about to learn a very important lesson and that is "Life Isn't Fair." He was his father's favorite son, but that wasn't his fault. The fault rested on the shoulders of his father, Jacob, not on Joseph. God causes Joseph to have a dream where his father, mother, and brothers would one day bow down to him and the hatred from the brothers intensifies. Jacob gives Joseph a special colorful tunic to show his favoritism and Joseph is going to pay the price for all of these special blessings being bestowed upon him.
If only I had learned the lesson "life isn't fair" as an adolescent I really believe some of my troublesome times may have been avoided. I can vividly remember saying, "But that isn't fair." At that moment, I wish someone would have made me sit in a chair and looked me straight in the eyes and said, "You are correct life isn't fair so quick expecting it to be fair. The sooner you learn this lesson the better off you will be in handling life."
I am of the opinion if you have children or grandchildren you should do them a favor and read this passage of scripture to them and inform them there is a very valuable lesson to be learned in life and that lesson is "Life isn't fair" so do yourself a favor and learn it quickly. I informed my children about life being unfair this way, the first lesson you want to learn about life: It Isn't Fair. I also said it this way: Life 101 - It Isn't Fair.
In Genesis 39 is the story of Potiphar's wife trying to seduce Joseph. He wants no part of this situation and when he runs away from her she lies to her husband and says Joseph tried to rape her but she screamed and he ran away. Joseph once again learns life isn't fair because Potiphar a very influential man in Egypt has Joseph incarcerated. There are so many unfair situations in life and I am certainly not going to try and list them. You will know them when you see them. My advice is to remember what Joseph says to his brothers at the end of Genesis 50:19-20 - But Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid, for am I in God's place? "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive." There are people in life who will do things to you because they want to hurt you. They mean evil against you as Joseph's brothers did against him. You will also want to remember God can use the injustices of life to work to your benefit as He did with Joseph. Think About This: The college of hard knocks is the only one that doesn't let the student drop out when the course gets tough. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word
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Prov. 15:31-32 - He whose ear listens to the life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise. He who neglects discipline despises himself, but he who listens to reproof acquires understanding. NASB
Ears That Listen If you are one that is able to listen to someone else giving you correct advice you will be successful. If your ears are able to listen to the life-giving reproof from others you will prosper. The item we need are ears that will listen to others when they share correct information with us. How Many Times Have We Said, "If Only I Would Have Listened." As I sit here and write this Pump Up I am smiling, but when I was going through life looking back on another mistake I made because I would not listen I wasn't laughing. I wasn't even smiling. I was asking myself, "Why didn't you listen?" The answer is right there in Proverbs because I didn't have ears that would listen. I thought I knew what was best. The one thing I find amazing is the times I didn't listen and I was correct I can't remember those situations as easily as I remember the ones where I didn't listen and was wrong. Reminds Me Of The "How To Be Successful Story" A young college student was sitting in the 5,000 member congregation. He was going to graduate from the local seminary this year. He asked the preacher after service if he could meet with him for 5 minutes. The preacher told him to stop by the office tomorrow morning at 9 am. The young man was there promptly. As he sat in the preacher's office he explained that he would be graduating in the spring and wanted to have a successful ministry like his and was there any advice he could give him. The preacher told him why sure. "I can tell you how to have a successful ministry in three words." The young student said, "Are you kidding me?" The preacher said, "Not at all. Are you ready to write them down?" "Yes." he replied. "Make Right Decisions." the preacher said. As the young student wrote down those three words he asked, "How will I know if I'm making right decisions?" "I can answer your question with one word. Experience!" said the preacher. With a pondered look on his face he asked, "And how do I get this experience?" With a big smile on the preacher's face he said, "By Making Wrong Decisions." There my friends is how to be successful. You will make decisions in life and not all of them are going to be the right ones. You just have to learn from your mistakes. Make the necessary adjustments, make another decision and continue to move forward. The Choice Is Yours You can either listen to others and be successful as Proverbs states or don't listen to others and learn from your own mistakes. Hopefully, your mistakes will not be too costly and you will be able to rebound and move forward becoming successful. The choice really is yours. Think On These: The biggest fool of all is the one who refuses to learn from his mistakes. Making mistakes isn't stupid, disregarding them is. A mistake is proof that someone was at least trying to accomplish something. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Prov.15:1 - "A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger."
He informed me, "We are never going to have a fight. We are in love." I said, "What?" He said it again, "We are never ever going to have a fight. We are in love." How foolish of me not to know that. You can only imagine what was running through my mind. Well, I didn't push on this issue and let it drop. I am sure they probably talked about me when they got into their car to leave. I can hear them saying, "Wow, the preacher really doesn't know what he is talking about if he thinks we are going to ever have a fight." Well, I did see them again. The first time in my office their chairs were right next to each other, they were holding hands and looking into each other's eyes. This time their chairs were apart, they were not holding hands and they would not even look at each other.
I commended them for calling and making an appointment to come in and at least get some counseling. We were able to work together this time, as they now were ready to listen. Words of truth will not do you any good if you will not listen to them. When disagreeing with someone listen to these words - "A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger."
How many times have we said something that was true and all it did was exacerbate the situation?
She said this is what he says, "He quotes their anniversary date and then says, I love you and would do it again." Now she doesn’t want him to say that because she wants to continue the fight because in her mind she hasn't won the argument, but when he says this she thinks no matter what I say I can't win now, so she drops it.
Remember the words of Solomon - "A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger." You might want to remember if you say the hurtful things it is like throwing gasoline on a fire. Are you ready to pay the price for the explosion and damage that will be caused by this behavior? You say the hurtful things and they will not go away no matter how many times you say you are sorry. So do yourself a favor and don't say them. Speak the gentle answers that bring the arguments to an end without hurting anyone. Think About This: In an argument, the best weapon to hold is your tongue unless it is going to give the gentle answers. When a person uses profanity to support an argument, it indicates that either the person or the argument is weak and probably both. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Prov. 23:9 - Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words. NASU
Why? There mind is made up by what they believe. They believe they are correct in spite of the truth or reports contrary to what they believe. This type of person is called a "fool" in the Bible. I had a professor in college who would tell us men you are going to meet a lot of people in the world who you will not be able to convince with the truth, the Word of God. Why? They are traveling around with this motto: "Don't Confuse Me With The Facts, My Mind Is Made Up." In other words, no matter what you say to them they are not going to change their mind. We sometimes call this type of person "stubborn" but God calls them "fools".
I can not begin to tell you how much more money would be in my bank account if I had only listened to my parents. I simply and incorrectly thought I was smarter than others and would not get caught like others. I was a "fool" for many years.
This one passage of scripture has helped me more times than I can count: Prov. 15:22 - "Without consultation, plans are frustrated, But with many counselors they succeed." Did that nugget of gold grab you like it did me? Here is my interpretation of that passage of scripture: "Without Consultation" or in other words without talking your plans over with others your plans are going to experience frustration, BUT with many counselors or many consultants your plans will succeed.
Let me give you an example: If you wanted to know something about learning how to wrestle (for yourself, your son, daughter, grandson or granddaughter) my advice, find a coach who knows about wrestling. Every year successful coaches offer wrestling camps and I would enroll my child in one of these camps near you. Just Google any one of these names and you will find out about their camps. Some top wrestling camps in the US (Cary Kolat, Tom or Terry Brands, Pat Santoro, Tom Ryan, Sean Bormet and these are just a few) Remember don't lose the key: finding someone you trust. Think On These: The only thing more expensive than education is ignorance. A wise man learns from the experience of others. An ordinary man learns from his own experiences. A fool learns from nobody's experiences. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word 1 Sam. 17:37-39 - And Saul said to David, "Go, and may the LORD be with you." Then Saul clothed David with his garments and put a bronze helmet on his head, and he clothed him with armor. David girded his sword over his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. So David said to Saul, "I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them." NASU
Saul was a very tall man (I Sam.9:2). There was no way his armor was going to fit on David. David respectfully informs King Saul he cannot wear them for he has not had time to test or train in them and off they come. Many times in life people will want us to be someone we are not. It is at times like this we need to be like David and be who we are.
He went as a shepherd who had FAITH in the God of Israel and he was going to be victorious. This is what David says to Goliath, 1 Sam. 17:45-46 - Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted. 46 "This day the LORD will deliver you up into my hands, and I will strike you down and remove your head from you. And I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel,.… David informs Goliath the God of Israel is not only going to deliver him into his hands He is going to deliver the entire Philistine Army into his hands. David was comfortable being a shepherd. David was comfortable sharing his faith in the God of Israel. David knew God was the One who was directing his steps in this life.
We really must learn to be ourselves in this world. Think On This: You Can't Be The Best When You're Trying To Be Like The Rest. Be Yourself. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word |
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