The Allure of Honor (Esther 5:9-6:14)

This past Sunday, I preached a sermon on the allure of honor taken from the passage of Esther 5:9-6:14. The message must be weighed against the backdrop of the series titled, "Divine Providence: the story of how God saved His people from total annihilation." When we consider the role of God behind the unfolding of historical events, it becomes clear that He is intimately involved when it comes to the preservation of His people.

Honor has an intriguing quality about it. It may refer to one's position as well as one's character. Those who hold positions of honor, however, do not always possess honorable character. Likewise, those who have honor may not possess a position of honor. What can we learn from the narrative of the book of Esther that can teach us about honor?

1. There are those who covet honor: Haman was one who pursued honor above everything else. But when he was denied honor, it is evident that honor became an idolatrous affair for him. Even after recounting the glory of his riches, the number of his sons, and every instance where the king had magnified him and promoted him above others (Est 5:11), he remained dissatisfied at the sight of one man who deprived him of it. Like Simon the Sorcerer in Acts chapter 8, Haman coveted the praise of men and it drove him to perversion, cruelty and it reduced him to a tyrant in the pages of history.

2. There are those who confer honor: Isn't it interesting that the king was so disturbed the night after Esther's banquet that he came upon the record of Mordecai's honorable deed in exposing a murderous conspiracy against the king? And on the morning of Haman's plot to hang Mordecai, the king confers with him to honor Mordecai according to Haman's recommendations. Honor is more than a mere position of power - it is the quality of one's character. A man cannot honor himself - it must be recognized by those who have honor. Had the king forgotten Mordecai? Perhaps. But one might consider the possibility that God was simply waiting for the right timing to reveal it to the king.

3. There are those who collect honor: Imagine the horror of Haman at the order of the king to carry out the glorification of Mordecai! Here was a man not seeking honor, but to simply be about his responsibility, protecting the king and the kingdom and he is escorted by the very man who sought that honor for himself. Those who collect honor may even find their enemies offering gifts of praise to them (cf. Psalm 110:1). Consider the widow at the temple treasury in Luke 21 and how Jesus calls attention to her humble offering in contrast to the gifts of the wealthy. Those who do not seek honor will find it before those who would give anything to have it.

Honor has an alluring quality about it. Haman obsessed over honor, and although he held a position of honor in the court of the king, he was clearly not worthy of it. On the contrary, Mordecai did not hold a seat of honor in the king's court; neither did he care to pursue such a position. Yet the king sought to honor him because he was an honorable man. Ironically, God used the man who sought honor to honor a man who did not.

Do you ever covet honor? Have you found yourself miserable at the sight of others receiving praise or failing to recognize your gifts or accomplishments? Let it go. It was the pharisees who chased after such things and they were despised in the eyes of our Lord. Rather, live your life in such a way that God alone should be the one you aim to please. Perhaps one day, at the right time, you will be lifted up before your enemies and given the honor of princes in the eyes of the King.