Navigating Our External Environment

            Joseph’s life is an excellent example of how God can and does use the pain and unfortunate circumstances we encounter. Despite being sold into a new culture and environment, Joseph stayed true to what was right and endured the consequences of those decisions. I think there are three ways Joseph navigated his external environment well.

            First, through God’s wisdom, Joseph knew that a massive famine was coming and preparations needed to be made. While there is not great detail in Scripture, we do know that Joseph orchestrated the gathering of crops from across Egypt during the seven years of plenty. This was stored throughout the cities in the land and in an abundance so great that it was compared to sand of the sea. While leaders today won’t likely have the same intel, this idea should be put into practice though in seasons of high economic success. Part of being a good steward is also being prepared for the unexpected. Navigating a changing economy even effects churches and non-profits as there will likely be a down turn in giving or an increase in expenses. Storing resources and cutting costs should not just be emergency practices but rather a mindset that guides leaders to and through difficult times.

            Joseph’s ability to thrive in any setting is another important attribute. We see this in his work while still living at home, in Potiphar’s house, in prison, and as the second most powerful man in essentially the known world at the time. Even in something as horrible as prison, Joseph still chose to influence others in what was right and be an example of someone who has character, something that was recognized by his captors. As leaders within ministry, we will certainly have to engage with various demographics and experience a variety of settings and the ability to do so both gracefully and confidently is something Joseph exemplified. One of my mentors, who is like a second dad to me, is someone who I think does this very well. As the CEO of a small company, he travels frequently to speak and represent his organization. I have accompanied him a few times on some of these trips and it’s amazing how he can engage large crowds while speaking about finding their career, have a theological discussion over dinner with those who he would say are far more educated than himself, and then help a teenaged student fix their motorcycle. Like with Joseph, it doesn’t mean we have to know everything about something. Rather, we must be willing to listen, care, and follow through with what God places before us regardless of whether we feel qualified.

            Finally, I think Joseph’s situation with Potiphar’s wife provides another good application point. Part of understanding the macro environment is paying attention to the social trends. Often, the change in social trends gives organizations the opportunities to adapt and take advantage of new fads or interests. For example, one of my friends had a woodworking business. A few years ago, when charcutier boards became a hit, he began to sell custom cutting boards and made thousands of dollars over the Christmas season. The recent soar in woke ideology is one trend though that raises a question. Just because a new social trend is popular, does it mean that is should be supported or bought into? Many companies in recent years have sold out in the name of DEI or some other woke agenda and many have suffered for it. Sometimes, doing the right thing will go against culture but that doesn’t make it any less right. Joseph fled from the temptation he faced with Potiphar’s wife and while it wasn’t “going against cultural trends”, it was a denial of self-pleasure, something that is all too rampant in today’s society.