Esther 3:5 When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged.
Passion for Christ and the zeal to stand for the truth yields much rewards. The most important principle in God’s economy is that our rewards are not based on ‘works’ but ‘worship’. It is not what we do but why we do it that brings a double portion increase in our lives. A lifestyle of worship simply means that the vision of our life is to glorify Him. “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). In a lifestyle of worship Christ Jesus will always be on the throne of our hearts and homes; He will reign over business and bank accounts and have the final say over all our decisions. A lifestyle of worship is to accentuate our Saviour in all the areas of our life. In the Kingdom of God we are marked by our “motives” and not our “momentum” or “monuments”. ..Motives are weighed by the LORD (Proverbs 16:2b).
Mordecai, the first cousin and the guardian of Esther (Esther 2:15), was a man of fervor who lived an uncompromised life in a pagan society. He could not be manipulated by power, position or coercion. Haman was the second in line in the Persian Kingdom and was the right hand man of King Xerxes. He hated the Jews. Mordecai had an official position in the royal palace as he was found sitting at the King’s gate but he refused to bow or pay homage to Haman. This infuriated Haman and he plotted to annihilate the Jews. There are two important reasons for Mordecai’s reprisal. Firstly, he was a zealous Jew who refused to bow down to a man (Exodus 20:5) and secondly, because Haman was the sixteenth generation and the direct descendant of King Agag, an Amalekite. The Amalekites were the enemies of Israel (Deuteronomy 25:17).
“Hamas” is the modern day Haman with the same spirit of genocide to obliterate the Jews.
Mordecai could not be intimidated by the powerful position of Haman as he was firm in his faith that all powers and authorities were under the rulership of the King of Kings. The Lord honoured Mordecai double for his fervency. He turned the tables around and Haman was hung in the same gallows that was built for Mordecai while Mordecai was promoted to Haman’s position.
Times-Two:
1. Uncompromised: Uncompromised standards in the secular and social world might cause short term tumult but will be doubly rewarded by the Lord.
2. Unfaltering: Unfaltering and unflattering stand to moral and business ethics will unfurl divine promotions. A resolute decision not to bow down to worldly standards or budge to social pressures would be tough in the corrupt world but will be richly rewarded by the Lord.
3. Unfathomed: The justice of God is unfathomable. God’s ways are unsearchable and His rewards are unmatchable.
A lifestyle of worship is the way to unlock double rewards.
Esther 8:2 Then the king took off his signet ring, which he had taken away from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai.
Prayer: King Jesus, King of Kings, give me the tenacity to stand against the temptation to compromise or bow to worldly standards. Amen.
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