Joseph's Courage

Every day it seems we can find examples of people doing what is wrong because of pressure. This pressure could be a bad group of friends, financial problems, or any of hundreds of other pressures we deal with every day. If we want the world to become a better place, we need to overcome these pressures.
One of my favorite Bible stories is of Joseph in Egypt. His life was hard. He was sold by his own brothers as a slave and became a servant to Potiphar, who was a powerful man in Egypt. Joseph worked hard until he became Potiphar's most trusted servant, but his problems weren't over.
Potiphar's wife lusted after Joseph and tempted him, saying, "Lie with me." He refused and avoided her on a daily basis. Finally, she caught him alone, grabbed him and insisted, "Lie with me." He didn't stop to argue, he "left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out." (Genesis 39:12)
Joseph refused to give in to her pressure because he knew that she wanted him to do something wrong. Resisting Potiphar's wife had consequences. She accused him of attempted rape and he lost his position and was thrown in prison. Joseph had the courage to do what is right. All of us need this courage. We need to ask ourselves, "What would I do if I was asked to lie about what my company does?" "What would I do if someone wanted me to help them steal something?" These may seem like stupid examples, but think about what ethical dilemma would be hard for you.
Some would argue that Joseph is a terrible example because his courage seems to have left him worse off than before. But, those who know the rest of the story will remember that prison was the place where Joseph was needed. The sequence of events eventually led him to become Pharaoh's second in command and he was able to save Egypt from a famine. But that part of the story is for next week.
Remember to have the courage that Joseph had to always do what is right. The end result will always be better.