So Potiphar gave Joseph complete administrative responsibility over everything he owned. With Joseph there, he didn’t worry about a thing—except what kind of food to eat!
Joseph was a very handsome and well-built young man, and Potiphar’s wife soon began to look at him lustfully. “Come and sleep with me,” she demanded.
But Joseph refused. “Look,” he told her, “my master trusts me with everything in his entire household. No one here has more authority than I do. He has held back nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How could I do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God.” Genesis 39:6-9, NLT.
The pure of heart have the presence of a moral/spiritual governor in their lives. They are free from guile, innocent, people who can be trusted. As evident in Joseph’s rejection of Potiphara, conniving wife of Potiphar.
Potiphar knew that Joseph was pure in heart when he gave Joseph complete control of the management of the household. He would not have given such responsibility to Joseph because he believed Joseph could be trusted.
The pure of heart have the isn’t something achieved by sheer willpower; it comes from a deeper place than that. It resides in the conscience of a person and is only extinguished when it is flooded by contrary culture and beliefs. Here are a few things that influence such a heart:
- A single, undivided focus. Kierkegaard said, “Purity of heart is to will one thing.” This was evident in Jesus’ statement to God, “Not my will but yours be done.”
- Honesty to self and to God is another feature of purity of heart. A heart becomes impure when one attempts to hide, pretend, or deceive.
- Understanding that the heart derives its direction from healthy relationships and instruction. is also critical to protecting purity of heart. Human beings have a strong tendency to become like what they “swim” in.
Joseph was prepared for Potiphara because he had a heart that was focused, able to see and identify what was happening, and was aware of how he wanted his life to go.
Joseph spent most of his life in Egypt and was, no doubt, enculturated by the experience. Nevertheless, in a reunion with his family, his purity of heart was displayed once again in the tears he shed and his lack of vengeance toward his brothers. Purity of heart resides in an honest soul. Like Joseph.
Prayer:
Dear Father, we want to have hearts free of malice and guile, fit homes to your Spirit. Help us to keep our hearts pure and may people who know us see in us evidence of your presence within. In Jesus’ name. Amen.