FINDING FAVOR -- Devotional for June 8, from "Good Seeds"

Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord (Genesis 6:8). The Lord caused all that Joseph did to prosper, so he found favor in his master's eyes (Genesis 39:3,4). And Esther found favor in the eyes of all who saw her (Esther 2:15).

Is it important that we seek the favor of others? Isn't it much better to just do our best and then let the chips fall where they may? This seemed to be the apostle Paul's attitude. After admitting that “it is required of a steward that he be found faithful,” he went on to say that ”it is a very small thing that I should be examined by you or by any human court” (I Cor. 4:2-3). A small thing? Maybe. Certainly we should not be gauging our words or actions primarily on what others might think – and yet, how can we avoid the watching eyes, the judgmental thoughts, and sometimes even the critical words of those around us? Three examples are Noah, Joseph and Esther, three saints of God whose lives fell under the intense scrutiny of the people around them. Esther was a woman of high character, a pristine example of the Proverbs 31 woman: “Charm is deceitful and beauty is fleeting, but the woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised” (verse 30). Though she sought simple, inner beauty, she was fraught with stunning outer charm. Through no effort or choice of her own, she had been endowed by her Creator with striking perfection of form and face. And it was chiefly these surface qualities that brought her into the king’s harem. She didn’t bemoan her fate of being loved only for skin-deep beauty, but rather allowed God to use it for His purposes and glory. The favor she found in the eyes of her king resulted in the salvation of her kin – the entire Jewish nation! And then there was Joseph (see Jan. 2), the patron saint of all “Second Fiddlers.” His highest place was to serve under another, and every master he served found great worldly success and personal satisfaction for the sole reason that he had the good fortune of choosing Joseph as his Number Two. Both by demeanor and by word, Joseph made sure all who knew him knew it was God, and not himself, that caused all that he did to prosper. He made the clear disclaimer that any good seen in him, or coming from him, was due to God dwelling and working in him. The favor found by Esther in the eyes of her husband, and that gained by Joseph in the eyes of his employers, are summarized by the life of Noah, who found favor in the eyes of the Lord. Oh that you and I could be so trusted by God to give Him the glory when He gives us the beauty or the cleverness or any other trait that brings success to us and blessing to others.