Loyalty
Ready:
"How could I (Joseph) do such a wicked thing and sin against God."
-Genesis 39:9b
Set
Offensive lineman Olin Kreutz began his career with the Chicago Bears and now, thanks to a contract extension through 2010, will end it with them. Kreutz turned down an opportunity to make more money with the Miami Dolphins in 2002 to stay with the Bears. "Not only has he been a good football player, he's been a very loyal player, and I also told Olin this: 'Loyalty is a two-way street.' I wanted to make sure he saw that first hand from our perspective," said Chicago Bears general manager Jerry Angelo.
One of the most fundamental qualities that will make or break relationships is loyalty. Joseph's loyalty to his boss and to God was tested when his boss's wife pursued him. However, Joseph displayed unwavering loyalty to both of them in that "He refused to go to bed with her or even to be with her" (Genesis 39:10). While his boss's loyalty faltered, Joseph found rock-solid loyalty from the Lord (Gen. 39:20-23).
If our relationships are to be all that they could be the "loyalty street" must be open and operating in both directions. One relationship where loyalty often looks more like a one-way street is our relationship with Jesus. We frequently allow roadblocks (anything that is more important to us than Jesus) to hinder our loyalty from moving freely back toward Him. Jesus is totally loyal to us (Romans 8:38-39), and we in turn need to "Be faithful, even to the point of death" (Revelation 2:10).
Our loyalty to Jesus and to others will be revealed this week through tests and trials. Let us remove any roadblocks and show extreme loyalty in our relationships, first to Jesus and then to others.
Go
1. Coach John Wooden says, "Loyalty is the force that forges individuals into a team." Do you see any disloyalty on your team? Why?
2. Do you think others would describe you as being loyal? Why or why not?
3. What are some roadblocks that hinder your loyalty to Jesus? To others?
Workout
1 Chronicles 29:18
Ruth 1:16-17
2 Samuel 11:1-17
John 6:60-69
Bible Reference:
Revelation 2
