Esther 7:7 (ESV)

And the king arose in his wrath from the wine-drinking and went into the palace garden, but Haman stayed to beg for his life from Queen Esther, for he saw that harm was determined against him by the king.

How that tables have turned! Two chapters earlier Haman left Esther’s first banquet joyful and glad of heart (Esther 5:9). What a difference a day makes. One day earlier Haman was at the top of the world. Now he is begging for his life. During the night Haman had gallows built to hang Mordecai. Now Haman is being hanged on those very same gallows after having to lead Mordecai through the streets of the city in honor. How quickly life can turn.

But this passage is not how fragile life is, nor about how fleeting, temporary, and fickle life’s experiences can be. This is about something more. It is about the foolishness of hoping in something temporal. It is about the shortsightedness of judging life from an earthly perspective. It is about the emptiness of pursuing personal fame and fortune. It is what Jesus was talking about when he said, No man can serve two masters (Mt 6:24). It is what he was referring to when he told the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus. There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day (Lk 16:19). But the rich man died, was buried, and found himself in a place of constant torment. It is what the Apostle Paul was talking about when he said,

Philippians 4:11b-13

I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

It is what Paul was talking about when he wrote,

Philippians 1:18b-21 (ESV)

I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, [20] as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. [21] For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

This story of Haman and Mordecai is about perspective. It is about where we find meaning in life. It is about who we trust. It is about what we value in life. Haman was focused inwardly. His vision was filled with himself. His meaning in life was found from his circumstances. But that kind of existence is fleeting. Proverbs 31:30 says, Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Esther was that kind of woman. Mordecai was that kind of man, a man who feared the Lord rather than being taken by his own glory. Haman never learned that truth. It leads me to consider: What is my perspective? Who am I trusting? What kind of person am I? Am I an Esther, or a Mordecai, or am I another Haman?

Matthew 6:24-34 (ESV)

[24] “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

[25] “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? [26] Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? [27] And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? [28] And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, [29] yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. [30] But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? [31] Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ [32] For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. [33] But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

[34] “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.