Love When It Doesn't Matter

Genesis 40:1–41:1 NLT

Some time later, Pharaoh’s chief cup-bearer and chief baker offended their royal master. Pharaoh became angry with these two officials, and he put them in the prison where Joseph was, in the palace of the captain of the guard. They remained in prison for quite some time, and the captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, who looked after them. While they were in prison, Pharaoh’s cup-bearer and baker each had a dream one night, and each dream had its own meaning. When Joseph saw them the next morning, he noticed that they both looked upset. “Why do you look so worried today?” he asked them. And they replied, “We both had dreams last night, but no one can tell us what they mean.” “Interpreting dreams is God’s business,” Joseph replied. “Go ahead and tell me your dreams.” So the chief cup-bearer told Joseph his dream first. “In my dream,” he said, “I saw a grapevine in front of me. The vine had three branches that began to bud and blossom, and soon it produced clusters of ripe grapes. I was holding Pharaoh’s wine cup in my hand, so I took a cluster of grapes and squeezed the juice into the cup. Then I placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.” “This is what the dream means,” Joseph said. “The three branches represent three days. Within three days Pharaoh will lift you up and restore you to your position as his chief cup-bearer. And please remember me and do me a favor when things go well for you. Mention me to Pharaoh, so he might let me out of this place. For I was kidnapped from my homeland, the land of the Hebrews, and now I’m here in prison, but I did nothing to deserve it.” When the chief baker saw that Joseph had given the first dream such a positive interpretation, he said to Joseph, “I had a dream, too. In my dream there were three baskets of white pastries stacked on my head. The top basket contained all kinds of pastries for Pharaoh, but the birds came and ate them from the basket on my head.” “This is what the dream means,” Joseph told him. “The three baskets also represent three days. Three days from now Pharaoh will lift you up and impale your body on a pole. Then birds will come and peck away at your flesh.” Pharaoh’s birthday came three days later, and he prepared a banquet for all his officials and staff. He summoned his chief cup-bearer and chief baker to join the other officials. He then restored the chief cup-bearer to his former position, so he could again hand Pharaoh his cup. But Pharaoh impaled the chief baker, just as Joseph had predicted when he interpreted his dream. Pharaoh’s chief cup-bearer, however, forgot all about Joseph, never giving him another thought. Two full years later, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing on the bank of the Nile River.

Summary

Following Jesus means loving God and others when it doesn’t make a difference.

Introduction

Dr. TuttleI wrote about one of my seminary mentors, Dr. Tuttle in our email update this past week.

He was a world evangelist and a phenomenal teacherHe didn’t bring crowds to the altar, he sent the church out to share Jesus with others.

3 Things I learned from Dr. Tuttle about helping others receive a saving relationships with Jesus:

1 - Pray for your 2–3 peoplePut their names somewhere you will see every dayPray for them every dayPray for God to give you an opportunity to share His love with them.

2 - Know that it takes the average person 78 presentations of the gospel before they make a decision.

You might be their #1

You might be their #27

You might be their #78

Every single presentation is important, whether you see a response or not.

AND #3 - Presenting the gospel is a show and tell kind of event.

Thesis: Following Jesus means loving God and others when it doesn’t make a difference.

We love because it is: Doing God’s Business

Scripture: Genesis 40:1–8

If it’s God’s business it is our business.

Famliy business

Everyone finds a part, even if they aren’t suited for everything

sharpening chainsaw chains

deconstructing scrap engines

Everyone counted inventory parts during audit times.

Unhelpful Humility - “Only God can do that.”

Helpful Humility - Joseph learned that interpreting dreams was God’s business, not his own, but He could go to God and be a part of that work.

Perfect Love (Matthew 5:43–48)

Love your enemies

Because God gives the rain and the sunshine to good and bad alike.

Whether they thank Him or not

Whether it makes a difference or not.

We are to be like our heavenly Father and be about His business.

When we love, we share the Good News and the Bad News

Which do you prefer first, the good news or the bad news?

If we really love someone, we find ways to share both the good and the bad news.

Scripture: Genesis 40:9–15

Good News

Here was Joseph waiting between two men who had been accused off trying to poison their King.

So you can tell that this was a prison for the worst cases. Joseph was on Death row.

He hoped that giving the cup bearer good news would win him the favor that would finally get him out of prison.

To grasp the whole situation here we need to remember who Joseph was before he was thrown in prison.

Joseph was conceited

He thought he was better than everyone else around him.

Yet here he is sharing his God-given gift with two strange potential assassins on Death row.

Scripture: Genesis 40:16–19

Bad News

Joespeh also dealt with bad news.

Not because he chose it but because Love rejoices in the truth, even when the truth is not pleasant to hear.

Doctors swear an oath to do no harm, and yet they give their patients bad news every day.

If there is any chance of change, you have to be williing to give someone the truth.

And even if there is no hope of recovery, withholding the truth or deceiving them will cause more harm in the end.

Sharing bad news can seem pointless at times, butt sometimes sharing good news can was well.

Trusting God means loving without reward

Scripture: Genesis 40:20–41:1

Zapier company offered $5,000 for new employees to quit after one month.

They were only in it for the money

We love God and Others because it is our business to do that as God’s people

We share the good news and the bad news when we love others

And we put our trust in God by loving others without reward or reciprocation

Joseph was not rewarded for loving those prisoners

He was forgetten

Not just for a couple days, or a couple weeks.

He was forgotten for 2 full years.

Sometimes we love and never see the results of that love.

That is ok, because we trust God and love because of Him, not for a reward.

CTA

Thesis: Following Jesus means loving God and others when it doesn’t make a difference