Forgiveness ! A Key to Financial Success

Joseph a type of Christ

One of the greatest stories in the bible is that of Joseph. This story is special for many reasons. One being that Joseph is a type of Christ who was rejected by his brethren, but while Joseph was rejected by his brethren who hated him because of his dreams, he had the fortitude to forgive them for throwing him into a pit, selling him into slavery for 20 pieces of silver, and reporting to Jacob that he was dead. Jesus could say while on a cross bleeding and in pain father forgive them for they know not what they do. Joseph could also say to his brethren you meant it for evil, but God meant it for good that much people might be saved from the famine.

Just as Jesus went back to heaven and sat down at his place of power which was at the right hand of the father, so Joseph was seated second in command only to the Pharaoh.Forgiveness had unlocked the financial genius that was on the inside of him causing him to excel and prosper everywhere he ended up. He forgave his brethren for putting him into the pit and selling him into slavery, and because of that God directed him through his pain to the place that he would prosper which was Egypt. God allows him to prosper blessing him to excel in Potiphar's house. He then has an encounter with Potiphar's wife who lies on him because he refused to sleep with her. He is then thrown into prison for something that he did not do, but he must continue to forgive Potiphar and his wife. Because he forgave them he unlocks his financial genius and moves up the corporate ladder to becoming one of the people in charge in prison. No matter what place life may have you in, if you forgive God can then work on your behalf and position you to receive that greatest blessing of your life!

Is God on your side? 

And when when ye stand praying forgive if ye have ought against any: That your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses, but if ye do not forgive neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses (Mark 11:25-26)

The above verse is the key that unlocks our financial genius. It is God working on our behalf because of obedience to his command to forgive. Josephs gift was that of a dreamer and one who could interpret dreams. As he continued to forgive, God partnered with him through his gift and his gift made room for him and brought him before great men (Potiphar, butler and baker, Pharoah). You may wonder what does that have to do with me? well Proverbs 18:16 says a mans gift makes room for him and bringeth him before great men. As we continue to forgive God will partner with us and our gift (gifts) and cause our financial genius to emerge.

When you have been forgotten 

And Joseph said unto him, this is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days, yet within three days shall pharaoh lift up thine head and restore thee unto thy place. and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler. But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness I pray thee unto me and make mention of me unto Pharaoh and bring me out of this house (Genesis 40:12-14).

Joseph had once again used his God given gift to interpret the dream of the butler. He had told him that he would be restored to his former position as the pharaoh's butler. Joseph had asked that when he returned to his position that he would remember him and put in a word for him that would bring him out of prison. Once again Joseph was disappointed because the butler forgot about him. He must now forgive the butler on a daily bases in order to remain in God's graces.

Unlimited forgiveness equals unlimited blessings 

Then came Peter to him and said Lord how oft shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him I say not unto thee until seven times, but until seventy times seven. (Matthew 18:21-22)

The Rabbi's in biblical times taught that to forgive 3 times was gracious and to be commended. Peter thought that by adding 4 more times would makeforgiveness complete. 4 plus 3 = 7 and seven is God's perfect number of completeness and Peter thought that to forgive seven times would be complete and sufficient. Jesus says I say not unto thee until seven times, but until seventy times seven. Jesus was not saying that 490 times would be sufficient, but the 490 represented an unlimited number of times. It is one thing to forgive an offense, but it is entirely different to forgive over and over again and sometimes for the same offense over and over. But the principle of forgiveness is this, God wants us to take the limits off of forgiveness so that He can take the limits off of our blessings. Unlimited forgiveness = unlimited blessing!