[Mordecai] sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:13-14
Esther might have thought the palace walls would protect her from the plight of her people. She found herself between the proverbial rock and a hard place. If Esther approached Xerxes uninvited, then she would die. If Esther said nothing, then she would die right alongside her people.
Mordecai makes an interesting point here. He tells Esther that she is in the right position to do God’s will, but if she chooses not to, then their deliverance will come in another way. Mordecai had a firm belief in God’s promises to the Jewish people. He knew that their deliverance was assured once again. The question was whether Esther would be a heroine or a casualty.
Mordecai wasn’t being cruel to Esther. He regarded her as his own daughter (Esther 2:7). It might have been easy for him to say, “You know, Esther has been through a lot. She was kidnapped by the king’s people and forced into a relationship with the king. Hasn’t the poor girl been through enough? Why cause her any more trouble by involving her in this? She will probably survive this as the queen. Why worry her with these things?” But, this was a passive course that Mordecai wasn’t intended to take.
Esther was in the position to do something about the nation’s fate. On one side of the balance was her personal safety, and on the other side was the future of her people. Mordecai’s words tipped the balance. Acting on a God-prompting Mordecai’s concern for Esther wasn’t avoiding trouble with the king. His concern was that when God rescued His people would Esther be among them?
In the providence of God, Esther was positioned to intervene. She was called for such a time as this.
You and I are also called for such a time as this. Have you identified your calling? Are you sensitive to God’s promptings in your life? Are you in touch with what God has gifted you to do?
You are not here by accident. The work that you do, in the marketplace and at home, was determined long ago. Your neighbors, your kids, your in-laws, your boss, your co-workers – they are all part of God’s plan. Why has God put you in their lives? What does He want to accomplish through you? Are you available?
Follow us on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/galatians419
To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog: http://galatians419.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Wise Men Say Only Fools Rush In
Then she instructed him to say to Mordecai, “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.” Esther 4:10-11
The old saying goes, “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.” At times, I have been that fool. No doubt, Esther was overcome with emotion at the news of the edict, but she also knew that there was a severe consequence for entering the king’s presence uninvited. Esther’s dilemma: would she perish with her people or would she perish first? This king, obviously, had no tolerance for disrespect. After all, consider the queen that she had replaced.
We are not called to play it safe. We are also not called to act foolishly. I don’t know where we ever got the idea that nuts were more spiritual than regular people. I guess from John the Baptist or Jeremiah or someone.
Having been in full-time ministry for just over 20 years, I have heard a lot of prayer requests that sound like this: Pray that we’ll have a safe trip. Pray that I’ll have a safe procedure. Pray that the closing on our house goes smoothly. Pray that the interview goes well. These are prayers for our convenience and our comfort. Don’t get me wrong. I pray for people who need prayer. But, sometimes I wonder if all we really want is a lucky charm, a rabbit's foot to hang from our rearview mirror.
Maybe what we really should be praying for is “Help me to emotionally survive a weekend with my in-laws. Or, Lord, help me find the right neighborhood where I can be a witness for you. Or, help me find a job that will support the ministry that You’ve called me to.” (Every believer has a calling. Do you know what yours is?)
In all of life’s dilemmas, the bottom line is that we live on a promise: “God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5). Every believe needs to get to a place where that promise is enough.
Whether things go our way or not, we can rest in knowing that God is always there for us, no matter what, and that is enough. Whether the market is on an upturn or a downturn, God is still on the throne. It may mean that we will have to discover some things about ourselves and some things about God in the process. If only discomfort causes us to grow, then God will ruthlessly eliminate our comfort to get us there.
What do you need to trust God for today?
Follow us on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/galatians419
To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog: http://galatians419.blogspot.com/
The old saying goes, “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.” At times, I have been that fool. No doubt, Esther was overcome with emotion at the news of the edict, but she also knew that there was a severe consequence for entering the king’s presence uninvited. Esther’s dilemma: would she perish with her people or would she perish first? This king, obviously, had no tolerance for disrespect. After all, consider the queen that she had replaced.
We are not called to play it safe. We are also not called to act foolishly. I don’t know where we ever got the idea that nuts were more spiritual than regular people. I guess from John the Baptist or Jeremiah or someone.
Having been in full-time ministry for just over 20 years, I have heard a lot of prayer requests that sound like this: Pray that we’ll have a safe trip. Pray that I’ll have a safe procedure. Pray that the closing on our house goes smoothly. Pray that the interview goes well. These are prayers for our convenience and our comfort. Don’t get me wrong. I pray for people who need prayer. But, sometimes I wonder if all we really want is a lucky charm, a rabbit's foot to hang from our rearview mirror.
Maybe what we really should be praying for is “Help me to emotionally survive a weekend with my in-laws. Or, Lord, help me find the right neighborhood where I can be a witness for you. Or, help me find a job that will support the ministry that You’ve called me to.” (Every believer has a calling. Do you know what yours is?)
In all of life’s dilemmas, the bottom line is that we live on a promise: “God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5). Every believe needs to get to a place where that promise is enough.
Whether things go our way or not, we can rest in knowing that God is always there for us, no matter what, and that is enough. Whether the market is on an upturn or a downturn, God is still on the throne. It may mean that we will have to discover some things about ourselves and some things about God in the process. If only discomfort causes us to grow, then God will ruthlessly eliminate our comfort to get us there.
What do you need to trust God for today?
Follow us on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/galatians419
To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog: http://galatians419.blogspot.com/
Monday, February 7, 2011
The Key to Reducing Stress
When Esther’s eunuchs and female attendants came and told her about Mordecai, she was in great distress. She sent clothes for him to put on instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them. Then Esther summoned Hathak, one of the king’s eunuchs assigned to attend her, and ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai and why.
So Hathak went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate.
He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to instruct her to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people. Esther 4:4-6, 8
Living safely within the king’s gate, Esther had been sheltered from the news of Xerxes’ edict to terminate her people. Mordecai’s obvious and visible expression of his emotion caught Esther’s attention. Her first impulse wasn’t to hear his lament, but to dress him up and put a happy face on the situation.
Mordecai came prepared. Not only did he voice his distress, he also had a copy of edict in writing. These weren’t the foolish rants of an old man. These weren’t the illogical worries of a person who had over-thought the situation. These were the facts.
It’s easy to become worried and upset over half-truths and suppositions. If the boss gives you a wrong look, you find yourself searching monster.com. Maybe he just had indigestion. Maybe some other issue was troubling him. You don’t know until you ask.
There is a whole host of things to worry about. Worriers definitely have job security. The potential of things that might go wrong is endless. But, worry was never intended as a state of being. Worry is a signal to pray (Philippians 4:6-7). When our thoughts have ventured out of our depth and out of our control, this is the place where God belongs. It’s beyond our reach, but it’s within His.
Rather than becoming upset over what might be, we need to discover what is. Paul advises us, “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:8-10). The truth is the greatest stress reliever that there is.
If you don’t know where you stand with someone, talk to them about it. If you’re afraid that everything might fall apart, then you need to evaluate your circumstance with Paul’s criteria.
At a minimum, remember this: God is good. God is on your side. God has helped you in the past. God is with you today. God holds your future.
Follow us on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/galatians419
To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog: http://galatians419.blogspot.com/
So Hathak went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate.
He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to instruct her to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people. Esther 4:4-6, 8
Living safely within the king’s gate, Esther had been sheltered from the news of Xerxes’ edict to terminate her people. Mordecai’s obvious and visible expression of his emotion caught Esther’s attention. Her first impulse wasn’t to hear his lament, but to dress him up and put a happy face on the situation.
Mordecai came prepared. Not only did he voice his distress, he also had a copy of edict in writing. These weren’t the foolish rants of an old man. These weren’t the illogical worries of a person who had over-thought the situation. These were the facts.
It’s easy to become worried and upset over half-truths and suppositions. If the boss gives you a wrong look, you find yourself searching monster.com. Maybe he just had indigestion. Maybe some other issue was troubling him. You don’t know until you ask.
There is a whole host of things to worry about. Worriers definitely have job security. The potential of things that might go wrong is endless. But, worry was never intended as a state of being. Worry is a signal to pray (Philippians 4:6-7). When our thoughts have ventured out of our depth and out of our control, this is the place where God belongs. It’s beyond our reach, but it’s within His.
Rather than becoming upset over what might be, we need to discover what is. Paul advises us, “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:8-10). The truth is the greatest stress reliever that there is.
If you don’t know where you stand with someone, talk to them about it. If you’re afraid that everything might fall apart, then you need to evaluate your circumstance with Paul’s criteria.
At a minimum, remember this: God is good. God is on your side. God has helped you in the past. God is with you today. God holds your future.
Follow us on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/galatians419
To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog: http://galatians419.blogspot.com/
Sunday, February 6, 2011
God’s Emotional Curriculum
When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because no one clothed in sackcloth was allowed to enter it. In every province to which the edict and order of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes. Esther 4:1-3
Some things are worth crying over. In American culture, we want to feel happiness all of the time. But, negative emotions, well, we could do without those, especially if you’re a man. The problem is if we stop feeling the bad stuff eventually we’ll stop feeling everything. (I grew up in the Midwest, so trust me on this.)
Many cultures in the world today present elaborate demonstrations of grief. Unless women are wailing, people are throwing themselves on the casket, or folks are jumping into the grave, well, onlookers might doubt their love for the deceased. In some cultures, the family actually hires professional mourners. I know a few people who could make a good living at it.
Mordecai and the other Jews weren’t merely putting on for others. Sackcloth and ashes were common signs of mourning in their culture. Their people were on the verge of extinction as ordered by the king’s edict (Esther 3:12). The day and time had been set. The Jews could do absolutely nothing to defend themselves.
In all of his grief, it’s interesting that Mordecai still followed the king’s rule by not entering into the king’s gate while in mourning. Good grief, what did Mordecai have to lose? Mordecai was a man who determined to do what was right, even when he was overcome by his emotions.
Not to over-analyze this setting, but the fact that the king wouldn’t allow mourners within his gate does speak to the king’s detachment from the consequences of his actions. Xerxes didn’t want mourners in his gates. He didn’t want to face the music of their wailing. Xerxes’ chief interest was Xerxes, and he liked it that way. Just keep the casualties out of site. Xerxes needed to get on with keeping himself happy.
Please understand, I am not encouraging you to become a bunch of cry babies. I also don’t want you to become a clod of dirt either. God created us to feel. In fact, the Bible has quite a lot to say about God’s emotions. God, Himself, is pleased (Luke 2:14), angry (Numbers 22:22), saddened (Genesis 6:6), and joyful (Zephaniah 3:17). Being made in God’s image, we have the same range of emotions.
Our emotions are not just something to get over. Our emotions are also part of God’s curriculum for our lives. Much like the warning lights on our dashboard, our emotions tell us things about ourselves that often our minds miss. Emotions are not something to merely get over. They are signals of something deeper going on inside us. Maybe we’re out of our depth, and we’re anxious. Maybe we’re discouraged and long for someone’s approval, but it’s not the someone we think.
How are you handling your emotions these days? Do you write down your thoughts? Do you hope that bad feelings will just go away? Are you becoming more disconnected every day? Or are you overwhelmed by your emotions and you can’t escape them?
What is God trying to teach you through what you feel?
Follow us on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/galatians419
To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog: http://galatians419.blogspot.com/
Some things are worth crying over. In American culture, we want to feel happiness all of the time. But, negative emotions, well, we could do without those, especially if you’re a man. The problem is if we stop feeling the bad stuff eventually we’ll stop feeling everything. (I grew up in the Midwest, so trust me on this.)
Many cultures in the world today present elaborate demonstrations of grief. Unless women are wailing, people are throwing themselves on the casket, or folks are jumping into the grave, well, onlookers might doubt their love for the deceased. In some cultures, the family actually hires professional mourners. I know a few people who could make a good living at it.
Mordecai and the other Jews weren’t merely putting on for others. Sackcloth and ashes were common signs of mourning in their culture. Their people were on the verge of extinction as ordered by the king’s edict (Esther 3:12). The day and time had been set. The Jews could do absolutely nothing to defend themselves.
In all of his grief, it’s interesting that Mordecai still followed the king’s rule by not entering into the king’s gate while in mourning. Good grief, what did Mordecai have to lose? Mordecai was a man who determined to do what was right, even when he was overcome by his emotions.
Not to over-analyze this setting, but the fact that the king wouldn’t allow mourners within his gate does speak to the king’s detachment from the consequences of his actions. Xerxes didn’t want mourners in his gates. He didn’t want to face the music of their wailing. Xerxes’ chief interest was Xerxes, and he liked it that way. Just keep the casualties out of site. Xerxes needed to get on with keeping himself happy.
Please understand, I am not encouraging you to become a bunch of cry babies. I also don’t want you to become a clod of dirt either. God created us to feel. In fact, the Bible has quite a lot to say about God’s emotions. God, Himself, is pleased (Luke 2:14), angry (Numbers 22:22), saddened (Genesis 6:6), and joyful (Zephaniah 3:17). Being made in God’s image, we have the same range of emotions.
Our emotions are not just something to get over. Our emotions are also part of God’s curriculum for our lives. Much like the warning lights on our dashboard, our emotions tell us things about ourselves that often our minds miss. Emotions are not something to merely get over. They are signals of something deeper going on inside us. Maybe we’re out of our depth, and we’re anxious. Maybe we’re discouraged and long for someone’s approval, but it’s not the someone we think.
How are you handling your emotions these days? Do you write down your thoughts? Do you hope that bad feelings will just go away? Are you becoming more disconnected every day? Or are you overwhelmed by your emotions and you can’t escape them?
What is God trying to teach you through what you feel?
Follow us on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/galatians419
To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog: http://galatians419.blogspot.com/
Thursday, February 3, 2011
God’s Will for Your Life
The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD. Proverbs 16:33
When someone refers to their “lot in life,” it usually comes across as a fatalistic acceptance of whatever trouble they are forced to endure. Some people seem to be lucky, while others are not. But, some people make their own luck. They prepare for a situation. They see beyond the immediate circumstance. They recognize that there are no coincidences in a committed life.
Whether we look at our lives as purpose-driven or we look at our lives as a crap shoot, God is the One who is rolling the dice and determining the outcome. This too could seem quite fatalistic, except that we know God is working for our good (Romans 8:28). He has a plan for us (Jeremiah 29:11). He has a purpose for our lives (2 Timothy 1:9). But, beyond all of the details of our lives, bumps and bruises included, God wills one thing for each and every one of us.
Here is God’s will for you and me: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Whether things go our way or go the other way, God’s will for you and me is that we would rejoice, pray and give thanks in all circumstances. I will admit, there are some circumstances that are hard to give thanks for. There are situations that are hard to rejoice over. There are times when it’s hard to pray. But, this is God’s will for us.
It would be much easier if God’s will was for us to be healthy, wealthy and wise. If all of the good things that entered our lives were God’s will, we would know that we were blessed. If bad things came into our lives, we would know that we needed to straighten up and get our lives back on track. But, here’s the deal: “[God] causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:45). When it rains, we all get wet.
So, let’s be honest, when have we grown the most, in good times or in bad? For most of us, the hardships of life have produced far more growth than the easy times. When we face problems, we are more diligent in prayer. We are more careful to remember and recite the goodness of God. Our past victories give us hope for the future. God is far more concerned about our character than our comfort.
What are you depressed about today? What can you rejoice about instead? What are you worried about today? Anything you think about more than three times a day is a worry. Pray about it instead (Philippians 4:6-7). What are you complaining about today? What can you give thanks for instead?
Is your car broken down? Thank God that you have a car. Are your water pipes leaking? Thank God that you have clean, running water. Many people in the world do not. (To get involved, check out the work of Water of Life at givefreshwater.org).
James wrote a sentence that is more than a little challenging to accept: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4).
That thing that is bothering you just might be the way that God is working in your life today.
Follow us on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/galatians419
To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog: http://www.blogger.com/goog_1704724898
When someone refers to their “lot in life,” it usually comes across as a fatalistic acceptance of whatever trouble they are forced to endure. Some people seem to be lucky, while others are not. But, some people make their own luck. They prepare for a situation. They see beyond the immediate circumstance. They recognize that there are no coincidences in a committed life.
Whether we look at our lives as purpose-driven or we look at our lives as a crap shoot, God is the One who is rolling the dice and determining the outcome. This too could seem quite fatalistic, except that we know God is working for our good (Romans 8:28). He has a plan for us (Jeremiah 29:11). He has a purpose for our lives (2 Timothy 1:9). But, beyond all of the details of our lives, bumps and bruises included, God wills one thing for each and every one of us.
Here is God’s will for you and me: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Whether things go our way or go the other way, God’s will for you and me is that we would rejoice, pray and give thanks in all circumstances. I will admit, there are some circumstances that are hard to give thanks for. There are situations that are hard to rejoice over. There are times when it’s hard to pray. But, this is God’s will for us.
It would be much easier if God’s will was for us to be healthy, wealthy and wise. If all of the good things that entered our lives were God’s will, we would know that we were blessed. If bad things came into our lives, we would know that we needed to straighten up and get our lives back on track. But, here’s the deal: “[God] causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:45). When it rains, we all get wet.
So, let’s be honest, when have we grown the most, in good times or in bad? For most of us, the hardships of life have produced far more growth than the easy times. When we face problems, we are more diligent in prayer. We are more careful to remember and recite the goodness of God. Our past victories give us hope for the future. God is far more concerned about our character than our comfort.
What are you depressed about today? What can you rejoice about instead? What are you worried about today? Anything you think about more than three times a day is a worry. Pray about it instead (Philippians 4:6-7). What are you complaining about today? What can you give thanks for instead?
Is your car broken down? Thank God that you have a car. Are your water pipes leaking? Thank God that you have clean, running water. Many people in the world do not. (To get involved, check out the work of Water of Life at givefreshwater.org).
James wrote a sentence that is more than a little challenging to accept: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4).
That thing that is bothering you just might be the way that God is working in your life today.
Follow us on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/galatians419
To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog: http://www.blogger.com/goog_1704724898
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
The Adult Version of Pitchin a Fit
So the king took his signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. “Keep the money,” the king said to Haman, “and do with the people as you please.” Dispatches were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces with the order to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews—young and old, women and children—on a single day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods. Esther 3:10-11, 13
Haman had incited a riot in the king’s heart. Fueled by anger, Xerxes quickly acted on Haman’s provocative report. Haman could keep his money. The king was thankful for the heads up. In a fit of irritation, the king determined to destroy the entire Jewish nation that was spread throughout his kingdom. An estimated 600,000 lives were now imperiled. Why? Because a man with a chip on his shoulder allowed his anger and jealousy to smolder to the point of inciting the king and annihilating a nation.
Think about it. Xerxes did more due diligence in deciding the fate of his queen, Vashti, when she disobeyed than he put into deciding the fate of the Jewish nation. Regarding Vashti, Xerxes had a conversation with several advisors before he chose to banish her. More than likely, Xerxes was only consulting them to justify his actions, but at least there was a conversation about it. All things considered, Xerxes was a man who shot from the hip and was driven by emotional overreactions. Do you know anyone like Xerxes?
Reactors work harder at justifying themselves than they do seeking the truth. Little of this is actually intuitive. It’s more the adult version of pitchin’ a fit. Unlike a tantrum, however, these fits are far more damaging to those around.
Xerxes had no strong reasons to trust Haman. Haman was elevated to his new position out of relative obscurity. He had done nothing to merit such a promotion. Based on no evidence and no track record, Xerxes chose to trust Haman. There was no trial run. There was no fact checking. Haman just seemed to fit into Xerxes agenda: the preservation of himself.
Xerxes was accountable to no one. As a wealthy and powerful ruler, he could do whatever he wanted, and there was no one to answer to. It was lonely at the top, and that’s the way Xerxes liked it. No one would question his authority. No one would get in his way. No one would challenge his decisions.
Leaders play a unique role in any organization. Leaders are the people who do the things that other people refuse to do. Leaders make the tough calls and face the consequences. Insecure leaders, however, are dangerous.
Insecure leaders depend on their followers to prop them up. These leaders don’t want a meeting of the minds. They want affirmation. They will ask over and over and over again checking their perception of a situation. They aren’t asking for another’s perspective. They just want to make sure that they aren’t wrong and that others don’t disagree. These leaders surround themselves with people who will tell them what they want to hear. People with a difference of opinion tend to keep those opinions to themselves. What the leaders take as consensus is really just the result of the false world they have created for themselves. There is a whole other conversation going on that they are completely unaware of.
Haman successfully convinced Xerxes to his contorted version of the truth. It seemed that Haman was doing Xerxes a favor. Xerxes didn’t try to confirm the information with anyone else. Xerxes’ knee jerk reaction followed. He had accepted Haman’s plot hook, line and sinker.
Who do you trust completely? Why? When you are faced with bad news, how do you investigate the situation? How quickly do you act? Often a rush to judgment leads to foolish actions.
Follow us on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/galatians419
To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog: http://galatians419.blogspot.com/
Haman had incited a riot in the king’s heart. Fueled by anger, Xerxes quickly acted on Haman’s provocative report. Haman could keep his money. The king was thankful for the heads up. In a fit of irritation, the king determined to destroy the entire Jewish nation that was spread throughout his kingdom. An estimated 600,000 lives were now imperiled. Why? Because a man with a chip on his shoulder allowed his anger and jealousy to smolder to the point of inciting the king and annihilating a nation.
Think about it. Xerxes did more due diligence in deciding the fate of his queen, Vashti, when she disobeyed than he put into deciding the fate of the Jewish nation. Regarding Vashti, Xerxes had a conversation with several advisors before he chose to banish her. More than likely, Xerxes was only consulting them to justify his actions, but at least there was a conversation about it. All things considered, Xerxes was a man who shot from the hip and was driven by emotional overreactions. Do you know anyone like Xerxes?
Reactors work harder at justifying themselves than they do seeking the truth. Little of this is actually intuitive. It’s more the adult version of pitchin’ a fit. Unlike a tantrum, however, these fits are far more damaging to those around.
Xerxes had no strong reasons to trust Haman. Haman was elevated to his new position out of relative obscurity. He had done nothing to merit such a promotion. Based on no evidence and no track record, Xerxes chose to trust Haman. There was no trial run. There was no fact checking. Haman just seemed to fit into Xerxes agenda: the preservation of himself.
Xerxes was accountable to no one. As a wealthy and powerful ruler, he could do whatever he wanted, and there was no one to answer to. It was lonely at the top, and that’s the way Xerxes liked it. No one would question his authority. No one would get in his way. No one would challenge his decisions.
Leaders play a unique role in any organization. Leaders are the people who do the things that other people refuse to do. Leaders make the tough calls and face the consequences. Insecure leaders, however, are dangerous.
Insecure leaders depend on their followers to prop them up. These leaders don’t want a meeting of the minds. They want affirmation. They will ask over and over and over again checking their perception of a situation. They aren’t asking for another’s perspective. They just want to make sure that they aren’t wrong and that others don’t disagree. These leaders surround themselves with people who will tell them what they want to hear. People with a difference of opinion tend to keep those opinions to themselves. What the leaders take as consensus is really just the result of the false world they have created for themselves. There is a whole other conversation going on that they are completely unaware of.
Haman successfully convinced Xerxes to his contorted version of the truth. It seemed that Haman was doing Xerxes a favor. Xerxes didn’t try to confirm the information with anyone else. Xerxes’ knee jerk reaction followed. He had accepted Haman’s plot hook, line and sinker.
Who do you trust completely? Why? When you are faced with bad news, how do you investigate the situation? How quickly do you act? Often a rush to judgment leads to foolish actions.
Follow us on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/galatians419
To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog: http://galatians419.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
When People Rub Us the Wrong Way
Then Haman said to King Xerxes, “There is a certain people dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom who keep themselves separate. Their customs are different from those of all other people, and they do not obey the king’s laws; it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them. If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them, and I will give ten thousand talents of silver to the king’s administrators for the royal treasury.” Esther 3:8-9
As Haman had thoroughly deceived himself, he begins to deceive the king as well. Haman puts things in a way that will truly be objectionable to the king. “A certain people are dispersed…” They’re everywhere. They “keep themselves separate.” That should tell you something. “Their customs are different…” We don’t know if we can trust them. We should be afraid of them and round them up. “They do not obey the king’s laws.” There you go. “It’s not in the king’s best interest…” You are allowing a foreign people to undermine you right under your nose. “Destroy them.” Call the exterminator. They must be stopped. And, oh, by the way, I’ll pay you 10,000 talents of silver (or 30 tons of silver valued at about $20 million at today’s prices).
Haman was obsessed with eliminating the Jews. He probably spent late nights plotting. He thought of all of the possible negatives about them, and anything else he could exaggerate into a negative. Then, he worded things in such a way so the king would strongly react, and Haman would get his way. Haman’s character was certainly flawed. And, the same can go for some of us.
Think about this: we interpret another person’s actions largely by whether we like them or not. Let’s say a co-worker gets a big raise. If we like them, then we think, “You know, he works very hard, he deserves that.” If we don’t like them, we think, “I work harder than he does. Why did he get a raise? He’s just in tight with the boss. He gets whatever he wants.” Same person. Same raise. Different point of view.
But, how far are we going to take things? To be honest, certain personalities rub us the wrong way. And, we return the favor to other people. There’s not a lot of rationality to this. Have you ever instantly liked or disliked someone because they remind you of someone from your past? You don’t know anything about them, yet you’ve already rushed to judgment.
If someone offends us or sins against us, then sure, there is plenty of reason to dislike them. But, Scripture directs us to go to them if they sinned again us (Matthew 18:15) or if we sinned against them (Matthew 5:23-24). The longer we leave offenses in an open loop, the easier it is for the enemy to get a foothold (Ephesians 4:26-27).
Where do you find yourself being irrational these days? What people irritate you? Who in your life just can’t seem to do anything right? How often do you pray for them? A simple remedy is to pray for God to bless that person. Jesus said, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:27-28). Try this and see how your heart changes.
Follow us on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/galatians419
To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog: http://galatians419.blogspot.com/
As Haman had thoroughly deceived himself, he begins to deceive the king as well. Haman puts things in a way that will truly be objectionable to the king. “A certain people are dispersed…” They’re everywhere. They “keep themselves separate.” That should tell you something. “Their customs are different…” We don’t know if we can trust them. We should be afraid of them and round them up. “They do not obey the king’s laws.” There you go. “It’s not in the king’s best interest…” You are allowing a foreign people to undermine you right under your nose. “Destroy them.” Call the exterminator. They must be stopped. And, oh, by the way, I’ll pay you 10,000 talents of silver (or 30 tons of silver valued at about $20 million at today’s prices).
Haman was obsessed with eliminating the Jews. He probably spent late nights plotting. He thought of all of the possible negatives about them, and anything else he could exaggerate into a negative. Then, he worded things in such a way so the king would strongly react, and Haman would get his way. Haman’s character was certainly flawed. And, the same can go for some of us.
Think about this: we interpret another person’s actions largely by whether we like them or not. Let’s say a co-worker gets a big raise. If we like them, then we think, “You know, he works very hard, he deserves that.” If we don’t like them, we think, “I work harder than he does. Why did he get a raise? He’s just in tight with the boss. He gets whatever he wants.” Same person. Same raise. Different point of view.
But, how far are we going to take things? To be honest, certain personalities rub us the wrong way. And, we return the favor to other people. There’s not a lot of rationality to this. Have you ever instantly liked or disliked someone because they remind you of someone from your past? You don’t know anything about them, yet you’ve already rushed to judgment.
If someone offends us or sins against us, then sure, there is plenty of reason to dislike them. But, Scripture directs us to go to them if they sinned again us (Matthew 18:15) or if we sinned against them (Matthew 5:23-24). The longer we leave offenses in an open loop, the easier it is for the enemy to get a foothold (Ephesians 4:26-27).
Where do you find yourself being irrational these days? What people irritate you? Who in your life just can’t seem to do anything right? How often do you pray for them? A simple remedy is to pray for God to bless that person. Jesus said, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:27-28). Try this and see how your heart changes.
Follow us on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/galatians419
To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog: http://galatians419.blogspot.com/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)