CENTURIES before Christ Jesus so practically advised his followers to "render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's," an Old Testament character had exemplified that aphorism, thereby handing down a valuable lesson in fidelity and patience. Driven from his home through the jealousy and treachery of his brothers, their carnal minds having been enraged because of his spirituality, sold into a shameful slavery, we find Joseph serenely confident in God's goodness, and apparently not unhappy in all with which he had to contend.
As a servant in Potiphar's household, he made the best of his situation and faithfully executed the tasks set before him. He did not allow himself to argue that to serve Potiphar was not his work, that the Egyptian was not his master rightfully, and that he owed him no obedience or loyalty. Joseph was a metaphysician, and he proceeded to heal his condition in the metaphysical way. He well knew that his freedom was in God, divine Mind, just as his bondage existed solely in mortal mind; that sooner or later the error which had brought him to this extremity must be destroyed. He knew that no amount of wrong thinking would ever solve his problem; that right knowing and doing alone would deliver him. While in the house of Jacob, his father, he had served God, and he continued to serve Him in the house of the Egyptian. Let his tasks be what they might, he knew that if his thought was pure his hands could do no wrong, and that in all his work he could but glorify God—he was not primarily serving Potiphar.
Joseph's example in this respect might well have been the inspiration for Paul's words, "Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men." So faithfully did Joseph adhere to and live up to his ideal of true service, that his worth was recognized and his fidelity rewarded. We read that "his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper," and "the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake," and Potiphar "left all that he had in Joseph's hand."
