Esther: God's Perfect Work Through Imperfect PeopleSample

Risking Your Comfort For The Good Of Others

In chapter 4, Mordecai learns of the planned genocide and eventually finds a way to tell Esther what has happened. Mordecai wants Esther to plead with the king to reverse the edict, but this is much easier said than done.

Other than those who were part of the king’s inner court, no one could approach the king unannounced - including the queen. To do so could result in the punishment of death if the king so chose. And whatever the reason, the King had not summoned her for the last 30 days.

Mordecai responds by saying that even Esther herself should not assume she will survive this edict if she does nothing. And perhaps, Mordecai says, this was the very reason God has made you queen. So Esther decides to hold a fast for provision and safety that she would not be killed for approaching the king unannounced, especially in light of her reasoning for wanting to speak to him.

While we read this passage, it is easy for us to say what Esther should do; that she should be willing to risk her life to save her people. After all, we will likely never be in such a position as Esther. And yet, as we read this story we are invited to consider our own lives. While we can’t save an entire population of people, we can influence the people God has placed in our lives.

To put it another way, you can’t change the world for everyone, but you can change the world for someone. Instead of wishing you could positively impact thousands of people, realizing you can’t, and then doing nothing. You and I can instead do for one person what we wish we could do for everyone.

In reality, a lack of action typically follows a lack of trust. Because we don’t think we can make much of a difference, we can downplay the difference we could make in the lives of those around us. If we assume an act of service towards someone won’t make that much of a difference, it’s easy to ignore what God might be asking us to do.

The truth is, in order to do what God has called you to do, you must be who God has called you to be. Esther has a choice to make. Will she be the kind of person who places the needs of others above herself, even when it could cost her everything? Or will she allow her fear to stop her from standing in the gap?

Regardless of the magnitude of our decisions, we face the same predicament. Will we follow the way of Jesus, who gave up his rights and privileges for us, or will we pursue our rights and protections over others?

Today’s reflection

Is there a situation in your life right now where it would be easier to do nothing than to risk your own standing (be it financial, time, or reputation) for the good of someone else?