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Favor from God = Favor with man

The second principle actually leads to a sub-plot of pride that Haman possessed. When I guard my heart, I understand that true honor and favor are given by God—not man. I have learned that when I seek favor with man first, that it doesn’t result in favor from God. However, when I seek favor from God first, it results in favor with man also. Why is this? When you seek God you find yourself serving others, as Jesus teaches us to do, “That the greatest of all is servant” (see Matthew 23:11). On the contrary, seeking the honor of men makes you strive to please people which is motivated by pride. In the story, Haman was bestowed great honor by the king which required acknowledgement as he passed among the people. Mordecai being more willing to obey God rather than man, did not bow and reverence Haman. Of course this caught Haman’s attention and caused an inquiry about this one non-bowing man. But I reason to believe that the only reason that Haman was so upset at this action was because he was full of himself. It only added insult to injury to find out Mordecai was a Jew. But please see how his own selfish pride is what started his eventual downfall (see Proverbs 16:18). Had he not required an absolute and complete acknowledgement of this bestowed honor, he would not have been judged so harshly (see Matthew 7:2). The type of favor that King Xerxes gave Haman was temporal and not even obeyed (at least by Mordecai), but it is true that God bestows favor that no man can ignore (see Esther 6:11)

I’m Responsible for My Actions

Esther chapter 5 ends with Haman being incited once again by Mordecai’s perceived insolence. But was it really Mordecai’s disobeying of [Persian] law that was the real problem? No. As an individual, I have had to resolve that no matter the actions of some people I have to make up in my mind (usually long before the action) to respond correctly. Does a down economy give me the right to steal or cheat to provide for my family? God forbid. God doesn’t give me a pass to act as an infidel just because someone else does. Furthermore, if their actions cause injury to me, I’m not licensed to act as an infidel either. In contrast, he tells me to love those that spitefully use me, to give them the shirt off my back and to repeatedly forgive them. And in the large scheme of things, I have never and probably will never endure such persecution that causes me to shed blood for my faith (see Hebrews 12:4) —let alone die like Christ did. So I have no right to hold a grudge no matter what the inequity that has been done to me in light of the cross of Christ! Was there ever a more grave injustice than innocent Jesus shedding blood in the most gruesome, shameful and painful manner known to man? Let me encourage each believer that your Heavenly Father promises a never-ending reservoir of grace to deal with any injustice that we suffer at the hand of men to keep our testimony pure. This is why James reiterates to us Proverbs 3:34 that , “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble”. He continues by saying, “Submit yourselves then to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” So the formula for the believer in the third principle is that, when I guard my heart, I submit myself to God to receive never-ending grace.

Much Needed Advice

This is advice that Haman could have used because in following the story, we read in Esther 7 that he is hanged on the gallows that he intended for Mordecai. Bitterness and hatred took root in his life and he was unable to ever resolve them without the power of God. I see as the forth principle that when I guard my heart, that although there may be a legitimate injustice done to me, there is never a legitimate reason for bitterness and hate. Personally, I do not believe Haman’s problem with bitterness towards the Jews was valid, but I fully understand how cultural ideologies are passed from generation to generation. Being an African-American that has lived in many diverse cultures, I understand why some individuals use race, ethnicity or culture as a crutch to support their perceptions of people. However, at the same time I do not condone or excuse it because it is essentially reluctance on their part to lay aside fear or pride and accept differences. We are not all God’s children (because that requires that we accept the gift of salvation first), but we are all his creation which gives us at least one thing in common and a great start to resolving our differences.

"Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life" from Tom Kelley

The Curse is Gone