I Can’t…God Can

Maybe some of us have done a lot of things wrong financially. Maybe some of us have placed our trust in things and wealth instead of in God. Rather than beating ourselves up today, let’s find two actions from Joseph’s life that we could imitate.

1. Joseph took a risk.

It was risky for Joseph to stand before the ruler of Egypt and speak on behalf of the one true God.

As a church, we’re not commissioned to produce feel-good worship experiences or keep a steady schedule of events and dinners for the saints. We’re commissioned to seek and to save the lost. And sometimes, we’ve got to take risks to do that. It’s risky when a plane leaves the runway. But that’s what planes are for. It’s riskier for the plane to just sit there and accumulate rust. It’s risky when a ship leaves the harbor. But that’s what ships are for. It’s riskier when a ship just sits in the harbor and collects barnacles. It’s risky when Jesus’ followers reach beyond the four walls of the church. But that’s what the church is for. It’s riskier when the only proof the world has of us being Christians is the rear-end print we’ve left in the pew.

The church is the only hope for the future. It’s only through the church that the world can hear about Jesus, the only hope for all eternity. That’s why our vision is to be a church of real people finding real hope.

Jesus himself said in Mark chapter 8…

36 “For what does it benefit someone to gain the whole world and yet lose his life?”

It doesn’t begin with our wallets; it begins in our hearts. So, take a risk.

The second observation on Joseph…

2. He was always giving God the glory.

At 30 years of age, Joseph had realized that it wasn’t about him.

Look at verses 15 and 16 of Genesis 41…

15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said about you that you can hear a dream and interpret it.”

16 “I am not able to,” Joseph answered Pharaoh. “It is God who will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.”

I can’t, but God can.

Maybe for some of us, our past doesn’t look too good. Maybe some of us have a history of spiritual mistakes, poor financial decisions, careless spending, and measly giving. Maybe some of us are in a rough situation right now due to some unforeseen circumstances.

I can’t; God can.

Maybe your balance sheet looks incredibly bleak, and there’s a famine in your checkbook.

I can’t; God can.

Maybe you’ve dug yourself a huge financial hole, and it looks like the ugly cows have swallowed up everything you have.

I can’t; God can.

Jesus said that it’s difficult for the wealthy to enter the kingdom of God. In fact, a camel has a better chance of passing through the eye of a needle. But then he says a couple of verses later, “With God all things are possible.”

I can’t; God can.

So, is it really “In God we trust”? Or are we looking for the next bailout, bankruptcy, or stimulus package? On my own, I can’t endure a financial famine.

I can’t, but God can.