Transition – Responsibility Produces Rewards

Joseph was rewarded by Pharoah because he executed his duties so well. In fact, the rewards you gain often have “extra benefits.”

Genesis 47:1-12 NLT
(1) Then Joseph went to see Pharaoh and told him, “My father and my brothers have arrived from the land of Canaan. They have come with all their flocks and herds and possessions, and they are now in the region of Goshen.”
(2) Joseph took five of his brothers with him and presented them to Pharaoh.
(3) And Pharaoh asked the brothers, “What is your occupation?” They replied, “We, your servants, are shepherds, just like our ancestors.
(4) We have come to live here in Egypt for a while, for there is no pasture for our flocks in Canaan. The famine is very severe there. So please, we request permission to live in the region of Goshen.”
(5) Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Now that your father and brothers have joined you here,
(6) choose any place in the entire land of Egypt for them to live. Give them the best land of Egypt. Let them live in the region of Goshen. And if any of them have special skills, put them in charge of my livestock, too.”
(7) Then Joseph brought in his father, Jacob, and presented him to Pharaoh. And Jacob blessed Pharaoh.
(8) “How old are you?” Pharaoh asked him.
(9) Jacob replied, “I have traveled this earth for 130 hard years. But my life has been short compared to the lives of my ancestors.”
(10) Then Jacob blessed Pharaoh again before leaving his court.
(11) So Joseph assigned the best land of Egypt—the region of Rameses—to his father and his brothers, and he settled them there, just as Pharaoh had commanded.
(12) And Joseph provided food for his father and his brothers in amounts appropriate to the number of their dependents, including the smallest children.

David gains a kingdom because he took responsibility for his actions. David kills Goliath. He serves Saul with all his might, but Saul’s jealousy causes David to flee for his life. Despite this, David continues to defend Israel from the Philistines. And, David would not kill Saul despite the fact he was presented with many opportunites act. Not acting as everyone was advising him to, David opted to follow the Word of God.

Jesus shows us the greastest act of responsibility – dying to bring about the redemption of humanity to God.

Matthew 26:36-46 NLT
(36) Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and He said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.”
(37) He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and He became anguished and distressed.
(38) He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.”
(39) He went on a little farther and bowed with His face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from Me. Yet I want Your will to be done, not Mine.”
(40) Then He returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with Me even one hour?
(41) Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”
(42) Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, Your will be done.”
(43) When He returned to them again, He found them sleeping, for they couldn’t keep their eyes open.
(44) So He went to pray a third time, saying the same things again.
(45) Then He came to the disciples and said, “Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But look—the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
(46) Up, let’s be going. Look, My betrayer is here!”

How valuable are you to God, that He would come down to earth and give His Life for you. Despite our sin and our choices in life that are contrary to the Word of God, He took responsibility for us. He sacrificed Himself so that we could make the ultimate choice: Salvation. In that choice, Jesus also calls us to go out into the world to teach and preach the Word so that others have the opportunity not only to make this choice, but also to learn about God and His Word. It is a responsibility that every Christian has and I can tell you from experience that it produces great rewards.