A PURSUIT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

Esther 8:15 “Mordecai left the king's presence wearing royal garments of blue and white, a large crown of gold and a purple robe of fine linen. And the city of Susa held a joyous celebration.”

Haman represents that Adamic principle of evil that is at work in our lives deluding us, deceiving us into lives of self-interest, self-effort, self-praise, self-admiration, self-pity and self-centeredness. That’s what Haman was all about – self, self, self. And that’s what our fleshly, sinful nature is all about – promoting self and living for self.

Haman wanted that job. He wanted the recognition. He wanted the worship, the honor, and the praise. He was the one who went home and gathered all his friends so he could tell them about how great he was. He was the one who couldn’t be happy so long as Mordecai wasn’t impressed with him. He was the one who bragged about being the only one invited to the queen’s banquet. It was all “me, me, me.”

That’s our fleshly, sinful nature at work in our life. That’s Haman in each of us, and until we recognize what a powerful foe he is in our life we’re destined to a life of misery and failure, and like Haman, we can be so deceived and blinded by our so-called greatness that we’ll be the last person to know we’ve wasted our life.

If Haman is a picture of our flesh, then Mordecai is a picture of the Spirit of God at work in our life. The Bible teaches us that the Spirit has been sent to teach us, to convict us, to lead us, and to comfort us. It was Mordecai that had the king’s best interests in mind. Mordecai quietly, but firmly stood his ground. Mordecai didn’t seek the honors, he didn’t seek the position, he didn’t ask for authority. He was there to serve the king.

The greatest thing you can do with your life is to recognize that it has been given to you for the good of the king. We must ask ourselves, “Is it worth the fight? Is it worth all the running?” Haman enjoyed great authority – he got the ring and the robes and the chariots and all that came with it. The people bowed in his presence, they honored his name, they celebrated his greatness – but it was a fleeting thing for a man who had chased the greatness for greatness sake. Mordecai on the other hand pursued righteousness, not only for the good of the king, but also because of his relation to the King of kings, and he too enjoyed great authority. He got the ring, Haman’s estate, royal clothes, a crown of gold, and all the honor he could stand, not because he pursued greatness, but because he was great – and there is a vast difference.

What is it that you are in pursuit of today, and who is it that you are following along the way? You can spend your life chasing some position, some accomplishment, or some reputation. You can seek authority and honor and power, but it will never be enough. The Haman that lives within us will always want more. He will never rest so long as there is still one more thing holding out, and until we crucify that man we’ll never enjoy the freedom and blessings that only a relationship with Jesus Christ offers.