Caution

"Now it happened one day that he went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the household was there inside." -Genesis 39.11

The day began like every other day, Joseph shows up on the job site for work. But today something is different, there is no one else there. Joseph enters the house, and aside from his master's wife, he is the only one there. There is no way he could have known this, and there is no way he could have known what was about to happen, but from this story we learn a very important lesson. Let us live with caution.

When I use the word caution I don't mean be a germaphobe who never leaves his apartment. I mean keep your guard up. Joseph walked right into a trap and ends up in prison as we'll see shortly. How many men have fallen into similar traps because they have dropped their guard? How many men have been falsely accused, and their integrity shattered simply because they allowed themselves to be in the wrong situation?

Men, live with cation. The enemy wants to take you out. You, as a man striving after God, are among his primary targets. He wants to take you out, and when you drop your guard and walk right into the trap that he has set you make his job all too easy. And remember, it isn't about what happens, but what people think and say happened.

Don't let yourself be caught in a trap. Make up your mind about the rules you'll live by and don't compromise on them ever. I won't ride in an elevator or car alone with a woman who isn't my wife or other family member. That way no one can accuse me of anything. I won't handle money from the church in any capacity so that no one can accuse me of improper use of church funds, or worse, stealing it. The more you keep your guard up, the less vulnerable you are.

We have a very real enemy who has countless traps laid to take us out. Be a survivor, not a statistic. Live with caution.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor