Beginning Of The End

There are people who are so full of themselves that they can’t seem to notice anything but themselves. They see all of the world in light of what can be done for them rather than noticing how they can help others. I do believe that there is a self-centered “nature” in all of us. I think the enemy installed that “nature” and our culture reinforces it daily. I will naturally choose the best cupcake on a tray of cupcakes instead of thinking someone else might like that one. I often think that I deserve something that is a bit better than everyone else. This is pride in a very simple and pure form. The proverb writer noted that: Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18 NIV)

The closest advisor to King Xerxes was a man named Haman. He was most definitely full of himself. He couldn’t stand Mordecai, the uncle of the queen (but he didn’t know about that relationship) because Mordecai wouldn’t bow down to him and show him “proper respect”. Some people are given some power and it goes straight to their head. Haman is about to go to the king to ask about killing Mordecai when the tables were turned quickly and Haman ended up humiliated. I don’t think the king knew the first thing about it either. Check this out…

6 When Haman entered, the king asked him, ‘What should be done for the man the king delights to honor?’

Now Haman thought to himself, ‘Who is there that the king would rather honor than me?’ 7 So he answered the king, ‘For the man the king delights to honor, 8 let them bring a royal robe the king has worn and a horse the king has ridden, one with a royal crest placed on its head. 9 Then let the robe and horse be entrusted to one of the king’s most noble princes. Let them robe the man the king delights to honor, and lead him on the horse through the city streets, proclaiming before him, “This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!”’

10 ‘Go at once,’ the king commanded Haman. ‘Get the robe and the horse and do just as you have suggested for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate. Do not neglect anything you have recommended.’ (Esther 6:6-10 NIV)

The king couldn’t sleep during the night and was reading some from the daily journals of the happenings in his world. I believe that the reason he couldn’t sleep is the work of the Holy Spirit. The king had forgotten to honor Mordecai for exposing the assassination plot from months before.  God was orchestrating some things behind the scenes because of the fasting (and prayers) of his people who had received a death sentence from Haman’s prideful leadership.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again and again. I believe that pride is the most basic sin that all other sin is built upon. I want what I want WHEN I want it. This sinful nature is really hard to move out. I’m convinced that without the help of the Lord, I can’t destroy this pride. I need His help dismantling the strong hold that pride has on my heart. I need to consistently humble myself before the Lord so that His Power can be noticed in me and not my own strength. Haman’s pride is the beginning of the end for him. If I’m not careful, it will also be the end of me. Pride is self-promoting but also self-destructive. It must be destroyed before it destroys me.

Pressing On!

Dwayne