The Mentality Of Joseph
The Mentality of Joseph
Mentality: mode or way of thought; outlook
Long Season of Trouble
For more than a decade, (from the age of 17 years until he turned 30) Joseph seemed unable to catch a break. Things went from bad to worse. Every short respite gave way to deeper and longer troubles.
What Is The Cause?
He did not cause this. Yes, one might argue that his foolish boasting to his brothers started his troubles, but how many of us have escaped youth without making foolish errors? Joseph could never have imagined that his brothers’ dislike of him was actually a murderous hatred.
What Was His Response?
All through his challenges, Joseph never became bitter. He had every reason to be, but he did not.
He never withdrew from associating with people. All his problems were caused by his associations. The one time he needed somebody to be there for him, they forgot about him promptly.
How did he maintain his mental health?
I believe it was because of what he told himself, his personal psycho-therapy. He interpreted his life correctly. He accepted his place in life.
Genesis 50:19 KJV
And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?
His childhood dreams of greatness were interpreted properly. In his dreams, he saw his brothers and even his father, bowing down to him. He did not misinterpret those dreams. He demonstrated a proper understanding of what it means to be great.
He saw himself as the one who would be a blessing to his family, rather than one who would lord it over them. Jesus later clarified for us, that kind of mindset.
It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, Matthew 20:26 LSB
Misinterpretation leads to false expectations which in turn lead to disappointment.
Joseph did not see himself merely as a blessed one, rather he understood that he was made to be a blessing. Misunderstanding this, we convince ourselves that we are blessed, and fail to understand that the purpose of our blessedness is to be a blessing.
Merely Blessed vs Blessed to be a Blessing.
Collector or contributor
We all have a plan for life. Our plan for life is determined by the lenses through which we view the world.
When we see ourselves merely as blessed, we view the world through the lenses of collection…. We expect good things to come to us. We expect everybody and everything to work out in our favor. Everything must bow to our presence and serve us. We value people based on what they bring to us, why they can do for us, how they can add value to us. We are the recipients of goods.
When things do not come the way we want, as quickly as we want, we get all twisted up on the inside. We get upset with people because they are not following THE PLAN. THE PLAN, of course, is that everything must work out for my pleasure.
Thank God, plans do change. Maturity requires a willingness to change our plans when they are based on wrong assumptions.
It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35
However, if we understand that we are intended to be a blessing, then we will be able to count it all joy. We view the world through the lenses of contribution. We expect good things to flow from us. We are looking for ways to help, to add value and to serve people.
Matthew 20:28 NLT
For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many."
When things do not go our way, we are still looking for ways to be a blessing. As a slave in Portiphar’s house, Joseph found ways to add value.
When he was unjustly thrown into prison, Joseph found ways to add value.
When he was brought before Pharaoh, Joseph found ways of adding value.
He added so much value, Pharaoh promoted him so he could add even more value.
When his brothers came to buy food in Egypt, Joseph found ways of doing value to them, the ones who hated him.
Finally , after his father’s death, his brothers became fearful that all this value he was adding to their lives was just eye-service to their father. Now that dad was dead, he would show them his true colors.
And he did show them his true colors.
Genesis 50:15-21 LSB
Then Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, and they said, “What if Joseph bears a grudge against us and returns back to us all the evil which we dealt against him!” [16] So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father commanded before he died, saying, [17] ‘Thus you shall say to Joseph, “Please forgive, I beg you, the transgression of your brothers and their sin, for they dealt evil against you.”’ So now, please forgive the transgression of the slaves of the God of your father.” And Joseph wept when they spoke to him. [18] Then his brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your slaves.” [19] But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place? [20] As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to do what has happened on this day, to keep many people alive. [21] So now, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” And he comforted them and spoke to their heart.
SUMMATION
Joseph knew that all things were made for God’s pleasure. (vs.17 Joseph wept when they spoke to him. He did not gloat, he wept.
Joseph knew he was not God and so he did not expect things or people to serve his pleasure. (vs. 19 for am I in God’s place?)
Joseph understood that his life was designed to be a blessing. All his gifts, his mistakes, his blessings and his troubles were all part of a Divine master plan. (vs. 20)
Joseph promised to stay consistent, to continue being a blessing as he had always been. (vs. 21)
This was Joseph’s mentality… The end purpose of my life is not to receive a blessing, but to be a blessing.
This kind of mindset will not be prideful when blessed, and will not be depressed for long when abused.
This kind of mindset will not be fickle, changing with the direction of the wind. Instead, this mindset will stay consistently good even in the face of the vicissitudes of life.
This mindset can boldly sing
Whatever my lot,
Thou hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well
With my soul.
This mindset can say
But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus-the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God. Acts 20:24 NLT
This is the mentality of Christ to which every Christian must aspire.
Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. [5] You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Philippians 2:4-5 NLT
