Be faithful when no one sees

Joseph was a faithful servant

and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!”, But he refused. “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her.

Genesis 39: 7-10

In this passage, Joseph was a servant in the home of Potiphar, an Egyptian officer. Everything Joseph did prosper because God was with him and Potiphar was able to recognize that. So much so that José gained Potiphar’s confidence and started to manage all his house and properties.

However, being a handsome boy as the Bible describes, Potiphar’s wife is attracted to Joseph and harassed him daily for him to lie with her. But he, even without being seen by his master, refused to have sex with his wife.

The passage we read shows us that Joseph honored Potiphar and all the authority he had received from him. Therefore, in resisting sexual temptation, he honored his master in the position of servant in that house and also honored God. Joseph showed integrity and fear of the Lord.

Joseph was a faithful servant in the secret, even though it led him to be unfairly framed by the woman, who accused him of attempted abuse. However, Joseph’s story does not end like this because even in prison he again won people’s trust and all along he had his character forged for what God would do through him. Coming to assume the government of the whole land of Egypt later.

David chooses to honor the king’s life

One interesting thing about David’s story is that when he is anointed by the prophet Samuel, he does not immediately become king of Israel. Many years passed before he took the throne. For a time he even became a fugitive because his success bothered King Saul, who came to pursue and envy him.

Even in this difficult period, David was always faithful, correct and courageous. He was always a servant who honored the king and his family, both in his heart and in his attitudes.

The men said, “This is the day the Lord spoke of when he said to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.’” Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe. He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the Lord.” With these words David sharply rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way.

1 Samuel 24: 4-7

In the above passage, David with his men has the opportunity to kill Saul, who was chasing him. However, David refuses to do evil and chooses to preserve Saul’s life. David recognized the Lord’s authority in Saul’s life because he was a king who had been anointed by God. Faced with this attitude, Saul is broken, cries, recognizes the goodness that was in David, and understands why he would be the next king of Israel.

David, like Joseph, chose to honor and be faithful to Saul, his lord and king, and he also honored God with his attitude. In secret and trials, our character is forged. We are prepared for greater purposes to come. David went through many processes, in which his faith and integrity were tested, before taking his leadership position in the nation.

Have we been whole and guided by the fear of God?

Joseph chose not to give in to temptation even when he was not being seen by Potiphar. And David chose not to kill Saul when he had the opportunity, because Saul would be unprepared. They were faithful to their “masters” when they were not watching them. In having these attitudes, they also honored God.

When we are faithful when no one is watching, we demonstrate our integrity. We demonstrate that we have the fear of the Lord.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 1: 7

The fear of the Lord concerns the understanding that everything we have, that all knowledge and wisdom comes from God. David and Joseph were wise people who had this understanding. So much so that David, even though he was king, several times recognized that he was a servant of the Lord and that his victories in battles were possible because of the Lord.

And this mental understanding that the fear of the Lord is the principle of knowledge produces in us practical attitudes to love God’s commandments, to live according to His laws, to be obedient. The fear of the genuine Lord produces wisdom and upright behavior in us.

Therefore, may we be ever wiser, according to the fear of the Lord in our hearts. So that we can live a righteous life and be faithful, even when no one is watching.

God bless!