photo #3789536

"And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and looked upon them, and, behold, they were sad.And he asked Pharaoh's officers that were with him in the ward of his lord's house, saying, Wherefore look ye so sadly to day?And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you." (Genesis 40:6-8)Have you ever thought how unlikely it was that young Joseph would notice the sadness of his cellmates? He had plenty of problems of his own without taking on anyone else’s. His brothers had sold him into slavery and then his boss, Mr. Potiphar fired Joseph and imprisoned him due to some false charges alleged by that sex-alluring Mrs. Potiphar.Yet, Joseph noticed and cared about the problems of others. The surest way out of a personal pit of discouragement is to think of and serve others. On the other hand, the surest way to deepen our dark times is to think more about ourselves.Joseph is perhaps the best example in the Old Testament of a selfless, servant-spirited saint and it is no coincidence that, in every situation in which he found himself, he continually rose above his trials and glorified God.Are you going through difficult times right now? Have others wronged you? What has been your response to it all? Do you think of others and how to help them, or pine away only about yourself and your own problems?Take a moment and look around you. There is a world of opportunities that the Lord has given you to help others, and they are His open doors which will lead you out of your own dark prison that's holding you captive.When we see or hear about the plight of others who are loaded down with problems and heartaches, let's be like Joseph in verse 8, and with that tender heart of compassion say, "Tell me them, I pray you."Yes friends, compassion makes a difference (Jude v.22). It will in the life of others and in yours as well. It certainly did in the life of Joseph.