We share a lot of stories about people living in mainstream culture today who make an impact for God’s Kingdom. We love those modern stories, and they are important, but we must not forget the richness that stories from the past, especially Scripture, can hold for us today.
I recently read the book of Esther and was amazed by how much I enjoyed it. From a literature standpoint, Esther is incredible. It has a massive scale, is rich with irony, features a crazy evil villain, and the good guys win despite incredible odds. If you’ve never read the book, you need to. Here are five lessons from Esther that are relevant for all of us living today:
(If you need a refresher on what happens in Esther, check out my old blog’s Guide to Esther)
1) Honor those in Authority:
Early on, Mordecai (Esther’s uncle) saves the life of the King by reporting a plot to kill him. While saving the life of your king may seem normal to most, Mordecai was a captive in a foreign land. He could have done nothing, desiring pain for a foreign king. He could have sold the news for personal gain. But instead, he quietly did what was right, and initially, his action was barely noticed by the King.
We don’t always agree with our bosses or teachers. They may be completely godless. Regardless, God has put them in authority and we need to respect them. In fact, honoring them is one of the best ways of to evangelize to them. Although our actions may seem unnoticed, eventually it always pays off (and not necessarily how we expect).
2) Remember that God is Always Present:
Interestingly, “God” is never named in the book. Not once. His presence, guidance, and hand, however, can be seen throughout the entire story. Just because God does not appear to you in a burning bush does not mean He is not with you. Even if no one at your work or school cares about Him, do not despair. Continue to seek God and He will direct your path.
3) Recognize the Purpose of your Place:
God put you in a specific time and place for a reason. As Mordecai says to Esther, “who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” She could have clung to her position as Queen for safety, but instead she seized the opportunity to do God’s work. If she had not acted, Scripture says relief would have come for the Jews from somewhere else.
This is quite compelling. God’s will can be accomplished with or without us. Esther could have ignored the problem and God would have still solved it, but if she did, her story would not echo through history and eternity.
If you want to make an impact, remain vigilant and keep your eyes open. When God presents an opportunity for you to impact a person, culture, company, or even the world, then do not hesitate. Act!
4) Depend on God in all things:
When Esther decides to speak to the King about Haman’s evil plot, she knows her life is at stake. No one is allowed to enter the King’s inner chamber unless he calls, and she has not been summoned in 30 days. So before she makes her move, she calls all the Jews to fast and pray with her for three days.
Anytime we seek to make a difference, we must depend on God. Great things simply cannot happen unless God is in them, so constantly pray for your work place, your neighbors, your communities, and everywhere else you want to see His Kingdom advance.
5) Always do the right thing:
There is a lie in popular business today: you have to cheat and lie to get ahead. In Esther, the wicked Haman rises to great power. For much of the book it seems like the bad guy will win. But ultimately, his own sin backfires and he loses everything. Mordecai, on the other hand, seems like he will be killed for doing the right thing. In the end, however he replaces Haman as the King’s second in command and lives a blessed life.
The same principles are true today. While cheaters may seem like they get ahead, their actions end up bringing destruction. While it can be tempting to join in the game of wicked men, remember that God is still watching. Doing the right thing may seem like a disadvantage, but companies without good business ethics frequently fall apart after a quick rise to fame.
When people are mean to you at work, don’t fight fire with fire. Continue to humbly walk before God and do the right thing. Eventually, God will redeem the situation in some magnificent way. You might lose your job. You might even lose your life. But if you stick with following God, they can never take your soul.
Where do you work? How can you make an impact there?
