May the mumbling commence!
If we do have a position of power in this world, how do we exercise this wisdom in a godly way? Look no further that the appendix of Esther, chapter ten. Read it below:
King Xerxes imposed tribute throughout the empire, to its distant shores. And all his acts of power and might, together with a full account of the greatness of Mordecai to which the king had raised him, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Media and Persia? Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Xerxes, preeminent among the Jews, and held in high esteem by his many fellow Jews, because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews.
What made Mordecai great? Was it his second highest ranking in the kingdom? Or was it because he was the highest ranking Jew? Or was it because the people held him in high esteem? Each successive question gets closer to the answer of greatness.
The last clause finally hits the nail on the head. Mordecai worked for the good of his people. He gave voice to the welfare of all the Jewish people. Mordecai worked and spoke for the welfare of his people. He was not concerned with his continued place of honor. His sole concern was serving the people who needed to be served.
What an object lesson for modern day politicians who are supposed to represent the people they are called to serve! Sometimes, instead of serving their constituents, they are self-serving doing the things to get re-elected and maintain their position of power. Many politicians have their decisions made for them by those who finance their campaigns. They find themselves in the pockets of a small minority of people – large businesses or large unions.
God made all of His leaders be tested before they took a place of leadership. Joseph was tested. So were Moses and Mordecai and many others. Once they had been humbled, they could know how to humbly serve God and others through the power they eventually obtained. Read a passage from Psalm 105 that recalls the life of Joseph:
He called down famine on the land
and destroyed all their supplies of food;
and he sent a man before them –
Joseph, sold as a slave.
They bruised his feet with shackles,
his neck was put in irons,
till what he foretold came to pass,
till the word of the Lord proved him true.
The king sent and released him,
the ruler of peoples set him free.
He made him master of his household,
ruler over all he possessed,
to instruct his princes as he pleased
and teach his elders wisdom. (Verses 16-22)
God sent Joseph down to Egypt as a slave. Still, Joseph was faithful to God. God sent Joseph to prison. Still, Joseph was faithful. So, God used Pharaoh, king of Egypt, to set Joseph into a place of power to be master of ruler over the decisions of the kingdom. Because of his experiences, Joseph was humble and willing to serve the princes and elders – to teach them to make them better. Joseph chose not to better himself over them. He chose instead to help other grow through his wisdom and experience.
To please God, we must not play “King of the Mountain.” We should instead understand our climb in knowing God a team expedition, where we must rely on one another to make our climb successful. It is better to strengthen our team members, because one day we may need them to help us along the way. This type of leading and using of power will please and glorify God and equip others for the long uphill climb of our life in Christ.
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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