Pride

Esther 5:9-14

Pride

Last time we saw the courage of Esther. She knew she needed to approach the King about the slaughter and destruction of her people. But she also knew that if the King rejected her, she could lose her life.

She prayed and fasted with Mordecai and the rest of the Jews in the area for three days. Then she prepared herself. She got all dressed up and she waited. She waited outside of the King’s court.

She waited to see if the King would notice her. Sure enough, the King does. But not just noticed her in a physical way, rather the King actually notices that something is wrong with her mental or emotional state.

The King asks what is wrong. Esther simply requests his presence, along with his right hand man Haman, at a banquet she has prepared for them. The King agrees and has a good time, so Esther invites them back for another party the next day.

In the meantime, where our Scripture picks up this morning. We see Haman heading home to his family. Along the way he sees Mordecai and became very angry again that this Jew would not bow down to him.

But he was able to control his anger and continued his journey to his house. When he got home Haman invited some of his friends and family over for a get together. Haman starts to brag about his accomplishments and how many children he has and how rich he is and how the king promoted him above all others.

Not only that, but the fact that the Queen invited him to a party today and tomorrow as well and no one else was invited. But he says, “there is this Jew that does not honor me.”

His family and friends tell him to build a gallows and hang the Jew from it. Of course, this sounds like a good idea to Haman so he orders the gallows to be built.

Haman’s pride is out on display here in full force. He is showing off to his family and friends and bragging about how great he is. Isn’t is amazing how this man can he think he is on top and yet a little man like Mordecai can ruin his whole day!

Isn’t it also interesting to see how Haman’s family and friends feed his pride and arrogance and encourage him to have Mordecai executed.

Pride is one of those tough things to deal with. I mean we all have some pride right? I am sure when your children did well in school you were proud of them right? It is only natural and it is healthy and Godly.

I take pride in my work. I try to do the best job that I can do given the circumstances. Sometimes I can do a better job than others, but at the end of the day I have to believe I gave it my best shot.

I don’t do that just for me. I do it for the honor and glory of God. He has given me the ability to do the things that I do, so I try to do my best for His honor.

But pride can also be like a disease. We can sum it up by thinking that we know better than anyone else. We are experts in everything. We are never wrong. If it turns out we were wrong, then we make excuses and argue rather than “fessing” up and saying, I was wrong.

Pride insists on being in the spot light. Being the center of attention. This usually involves elevating yourself and belittling others and causing conflict. The Pharisees loved the best seats in the synagogue. Why? Because they were filled with pride.

Jesus tells us that the proud love to hear praises from people. Of course, we know that those praises will be their only reward, they will certainly get no heavenly acclamations for that.

The opposite of pride is humility. We have talked a lot about that during our series in the Gospel of Mark. The humble person may never hear a praise from others here on earth, but we know they will receive their reward in heaven.

God hates pride. Pride made sin a reality way back in the garden of Eden. Proverbs 8:13 says, “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil. Pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate.”

The apostle Paul is a great example of a humble servant of God. And God kept him from become proud. As we know, Paul was a Hebrew of Hebrews’. He had the perfect upbringing and training in the Jewish faith.

Then he is converted to Christ, to Christianity. Paul teaches and preaches the Gospel. He sets up and leads many churches. He oversees the spiritual growth of many. He is inspired to write about half of the New Testament. Here is a man that could truly be proud.

But Paul knew it wasn’t him. Paul knew it was God doing the work. And Paul knew that God was keeping him humble.

In Paul’s Second letter to the Corinthian church, he mentions that thorn in his flesh. We don’t know what that thorn was, but it caused Paul some trouble. Paul prayed and begged God to remove it. But God would not.

Why? Because that is what God used to keep Paul from losing his humility and becoming filled with pride.

Pride seems to be so natural for many of us today. As I mentioned, we are all proud of some things, especially our children. But listen to some conversations this week. I suspect you will notice someone telling a story and then the other person tries to “one up” that story. They are more proud of their story than they are interested in hearing your story.

Don’t feed pride like Haman’s family did. Instead when you hear someone boasting, simply say something like, “Wow, God has really blessed you!”

But what about you? Examine your heart this week, look at your actions and attitudes and see if there is any self-pride in them. If so, pray that God will do whatever needs to be done to remove that pride from you.

Closing Prayer

Lord, so often in this world today we are focused on ourselves and we forget that all things come from you. Thank you for blessing us in so many ways. Give us your vision for our lives.

Enable us to see our pride and remove it. Help us to humbly serve you with our lives.

AMEN