Earning Rewards

Esther 6

Last time we saw Haman’s pride. He was bragging to his wife, family, and friends about how great he was, how many children he had, about his great wealth, about how the king promoted him, and how even the queen invited him to a special banquet.

He also told his friends the story of Mordecai not bowing down to him and paying him the respect he felt he deserved. His friends encouraged him to make a gallows for Mordecai and have him hung on it the next day.

Our Scripture picks up this morning with the King having a sleepless night. So he tells his servants to read the book of records of his kingship. The servants start reading and they come to the part about the plan to assassinate the king.

Once again we can see God’s hand at work. The king “just happen” to have insomnia and the servants “just happen” to read about Mordecai’s good deed. This isn’t just chance. This is God at work.

The king asks his servants what reward was given to Mordecai for discovering this plot. The servants reply, “nothing.”

The king married Esther in the 7th year of his reign. The plot to kill the king occurred shortly there after. It is now the king’s 12th year of his reign. So about 5 years had past since Mordecai exposed this plot to kill the king.

No doubt by this time, Mordecai had long forgotten about his role in saving the king. More than likely Mordecai wasn’t even ever looking for a reward. He was simply doing what he felt was right.

The king wants to reward Mordecai for his actions. The king calls for whoever is in his court to come. Again, it just so happens that it is Haman, who is actually coming to ask the king to execute Mordecai!

Chance? No way! This is God at work yet again. The king asks Haman what is the best way to honor someone. Haman, of course, thinks the king is planning to honor him, so Haman comes up with this wonderful and extravagant plan to honor this person.

As we know, the king is referring to Mordecai. The king likes the plan and tells Haman to go and prepare the honors for Mordecai. Haman is quite shocked, but obeys the king, even though it humiliates himself.

After Haman parades Mordecai around and honors him, he returns to his house to tell his family and friends about the events that took place.

It is interesting to note that Haman must consider these people true friends because he is willing to tell them of this embarrassing story. Most people wouldn’t do that unless they were true, close friends and family.

At the end of the chapter, we read of Haman’s friends telling him that if Mordecai is a Jew, then you will not win this battle. Apparently, they were familiar with the God of the Jews and knew the history and the stories of how they prevailed.

So who earned their reward here? It sounds like both Haman and Mordecai are going to get what they deserve, right? As we shall see next week, that is indeed what happens.

But what about us? Are we rewarded for our good deeds? No doubt we are sometimes. We are rewarded sometimes, if you want to call it that, for our earthly good deeds. Maybe we get a monetary reward for finding a lost dog or helping to capture a criminal or something.

Sometimes we get a thank you or an atta boy for doing an outstanding job. And that is ok too. We must not let that effect us or our ego’s, but it is important on a human, earthly level to give thanks to others and show our appreciation to them for the things that they do not only for us but for others as well.

We also need to remember the reward of believers is from God. Our reward is eternal life through Christ. We will reign with Christ because we are joint heirs of Christ. We will receive a crown of righteousness, of glory, of life and an imperishable crown.

We do what we do for God, not for ourselves, not for our own ego. We do it to honor and glorify God.

As I mentioned we should always give thanks to the people that do things for us. We need to remember that it is God working through them to bless us. We should never take our blessings for granted.

How many times have you thanked God for the blessings of our forefathers, like George Washington, John Adams, John Hancock, Benjamin Franklin and other signers and supporters of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution?

Think about it! What a blessing it is to live in a free country.

How about the teachers that taught you to read and write or the many soldiers that fought and sacrificed their lives for our freedoms and the freedoms of others.

We are to give thanks to God for all things and everyone. 1 Timothy 2:1 says, “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men.”

Let us remember to not only thank each other for the things we do, but to thank God for all that He does for us. Especially, that great and wonderful reward of eternal salvation.

Try to create a spirit of thanksgiving in your life this week. Thank the people that are good to you and encourage others to gives thanks to God for the things that he has done.

Closing Prayer

Father, we thank you for that wonderful gift of eternal life. We thank you for the many blessings in our lives. Often times we take for granted the freedoms we have here in this country.

Help us to remember where all of these blessings come from and help us to use the blessings you have given to us to be a blessing to others. We do this all for you and your glory.

AMEN