THE STORY OF JESUS: Esther 6:4-9
“Who is there that the king would rather honor than me?” (Esther 6:6)
Haman is so full of himself, he can’t imagine anyone else being honored.
He has reached the top, even the king can’t help but love him.
In his mind he imagines riding in the chariot, all eyes adoring him.
But he is like the Laodicean Christians that John writes about.
“You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.” (Revelation 3:17)
It is said that pride goes before the fall (Proverbs 16:18).
Am I at risk of this, do I see myself more highly than I ought to?
How often people say of themselves ‘I’m a good person’ or ‘I’m not that bad’.
We see what we see, and know what we know… but God sees and knows so much more.
Humility recognizes that our self-awareness is limited, flawed, self-serving.
Faith gives us eyes to see how unworthy we are, and how worthy God is.
Humility and confidence in God are essential for being honored by the King.
Do we mistakenly think that God is really impressed with us, can’t help but honor us?
“Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.” (Romans 12:3)
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, You do not ask that I grovel, but You do ask for honesty and humility. I am not as good as I wish I could be, but You are good, and my confidence is in You and Your love.
Jesus follower
trying to find His way
Observations/Application
Know yourself.
God created each person with unique gifts. Gifts for service. Gifts to serve others and Him. Not self-service.
Whom am I?
How do I see myself?
Do I have the upward look? My help comes from the Lord.
Do I have the downward look? I am nothing, useless, unworthy, inferior, . . .
Do I have the inward look? I am the all in all, full of myself, the gift to all mankind because I am the answer. A navel gazer.
Haman lived for himself and was a very proud man. All for Haman. God was not part of the picture.
In all that I do I must remember that I am a servant of the King and in His service using the gifts/talents given. The main word is service to others. How am I an instrument of His peace?
Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.