Every good gift comes from God (James 1:17). The LORD who causes the sun to rise and the rain to fall supplies our every need, and the capacity to enjoy anything about life on this planet is also a gift from Him. Because of our selfish and greedy nature, we can begin to worship self or the creature more than the Creator, the gift rather than the Giver. When we make stuff, fame, money, or anything that is passing away our desire rather than God, we are not grateful for what we do have. The one thing we don't have that we want can sour the very things we enjoy.
A perfect example of the folly of discontentment is seen in wicked Haman, enemy of the Jews. He found favour in the eyes of King Ahasuerus and was promoted to a high station. He was given privileged access to the king and everyone on the street bowed before Haman in reverence. However, there was one man named Mordecai who refused to bow. When Haman discovered Mordecai would not pay homage to him due to his Jewish faith, Haman schemed to destroy all Jews. The king was not privy to all the details of Haman's intentionally vague plan but was guaranteed to be rid of a trouble-making people while enriching the treasury. The date of the destruction of the Jews was publicised and moved Mordecai and many others to mourn and cry out to God for deliverance.
After Haman attended a private banquet of wine with the king and queen, consider Haman's perspective in Esther 5:9-13: "So Haman went out that day joyful and with a glad heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, and that he did not stand or tremble before him, he was filled with indignation against Mordecai. 10 Nevertheless Haman restrained himself and went home, and he sent and called for his friends and his wife Zeresh. 11 Then Haman told them of his great riches, the multitude of his children, everything in which the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and servants of the king. 12 Moreover Haman said, "Besides, Queen Esther invited no one but me to come in with the king to the banquet that she prepared; and tomorrow I am again invited by her, along with the king. 13 Yet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate." (bold emphasis mine)
Isn't this astounding? Haman boasted over his accomplishments and privilege, but when one man refused to bow before him in acknowledgement his view was, "All this avails me nothing." Haman's seething selfishness, pride, and greed expressed itself in anger and hatred. Seeing one person sitting and not kowtowing ruined all the good he should have been grateful for. This is like the person who has a closet full of clothes but with nothing to wear; a person depressed over the shape of their nose that functions perfectly well. It is fury over a scratch or dent in a car instead of being glad to have a quality vehicle for transportation. A person who is having a "bad hair day" should be glad they have it. We complain over how the meat isn't as tender as it was last time when there are people who haven't been able to afford steak for years. Do you see what I mean? All the great things provided by God's grace can instantly evaporate in the flames of our selfishness and greed. Killing Mordecai or all the Jews would never have satisfied Haman because his wickedness was insatiable.
Child of God, may contentment, thanksgiving, and gratefulness for our God and His goodness towards us mark our lives rather than the folly of discontent. In stark contrast to Haman, let us heed the exhortation of Colossians 3:12-15: "Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful." Our circumstances should never take the shine off the fact we are chosen, made holy, and beloved by God. As His children the peace of God is to rule our hearts, and we ought to be thankful to be called in one body the Church. If we fall into idolatry Haman shows us nothing will ever be enough. When we bow the knee to God in worship and thanksgiving, we can choose gratitude over discontentment.
A perfect example of the folly of discontentment is seen in wicked Haman, enemy of the Jews. He found favour in the eyes of King Ahasuerus and was promoted to a high station. He was given privileged access to the king and everyone on the street bowed before Haman in reverence. However, there was one man named Mordecai who refused to bow. When Haman discovered Mordecai would not pay homage to him due to his Jewish faith, Haman schemed to destroy all Jews. The king was not privy to all the details of Haman's intentionally vague plan but was guaranteed to be rid of a trouble-making people while enriching the treasury. The date of the destruction of the Jews was publicised and moved Mordecai and many others to mourn and cry out to God for deliverance.
After Haman attended a private banquet of wine with the king and queen, consider Haman's perspective in Esther 5:9-13: "So Haman went out that day joyful and with a glad heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, and that he did not stand or tremble before him, he was filled with indignation against Mordecai. 10 Nevertheless Haman restrained himself and went home, and he sent and called for his friends and his wife Zeresh. 11 Then Haman told them of his great riches, the multitude of his children, everything in which the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and servants of the king. 12 Moreover Haman said, "Besides, Queen Esther invited no one but me to come in with the king to the banquet that she prepared; and tomorrow I am again invited by her, along with the king. 13 Yet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate." (bold emphasis mine)
Isn't this astounding? Haman boasted over his accomplishments and privilege, but when one man refused to bow before him in acknowledgement his view was, "All this avails me nothing." Haman's seething selfishness, pride, and greed expressed itself in anger and hatred. Seeing one person sitting and not kowtowing ruined all the good he should have been grateful for. This is like the person who has a closet full of clothes but with nothing to wear; a person depressed over the shape of their nose that functions perfectly well. It is fury over a scratch or dent in a car instead of being glad to have a quality vehicle for transportation. A person who is having a "bad hair day" should be glad they have it. We complain over how the meat isn't as tender as it was last time when there are people who haven't been able to afford steak for years. Do you see what I mean? All the great things provided by God's grace can instantly evaporate in the flames of our selfishness and greed. Killing Mordecai or all the Jews would never have satisfied Haman because his wickedness was insatiable.
Child of God, may contentment, thanksgiving, and gratefulness for our God and His goodness towards us mark our lives rather than the folly of discontent. In stark contrast to Haman, let us heed the exhortation of Colossians 3:12-15: "Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful." Our circumstances should never take the shine off the fact we are chosen, made holy, and beloved by God. As His children the peace of God is to rule our hearts, and we ought to be thankful to be called in one body the Church. If we fall into idolatry Haman shows us nothing will ever be enough. When we bow the knee to God in worship and thanksgiving, we can choose gratitude over discontentment.
No comments:
Post a Comment
To uphold the integrity of this site, no comments with links for advertising will be posted. No ads here! :)