Christian Devotional – November 4, 2020

Pageant Queen with a Purpose, #17

Satisfied. What does it take for us to feel satisfied? Read Esther 5:9-14.

Then Haman went out that day glad and pleased of heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate and that he did not stand up or tremble before him, Haman was filled with anger against Mordecai. Haman controlled himself, however, went to his house and sent for his friends and his wife Zeresh. Then Haman recounted to them the glory of his riches, and the number of his sons, and every instance where the king had magnified him and how he had promoted him above the princes and servants of the king. Haman also said, “Even Esther the queen let no one but me come with the king to the banquet which she had prepared; and tomorrow also I am invited by her with the king. Yet all of this does not satisfy me every time I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.” Then Zeresh his wife and all his friends said to him, “Have a gallows fifty cubits high made and in the morning ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on it; then go joyfully with the king to the banquet.” And the advice pleased Haman, so he had the gallows made.
Esther 5:9‭-‬14 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/est.5.9-14.NASB1995

Haman went home to brag. He had had such an amazing day. He spent time telling his wife and all his friends about all the wonderful things he had going for him. He had wealth, he had sons, he even had the opportunity to be in the presence of the King and Queen by special request of the Queen herself. However, he was still not honored by Mordecai. Even with all those things going for him, the fact that one person was not honoring him made him dissatisfied with everything else.

How do we define success? How do we determine whether or not we are satisfied with our live? As we seek to follow God, his glory becomes our purpose. His satisfaction becomes our satisfaction. If we are truly following God, then our own selfish desires do not matter. The only thing that matters is God’s desire and seeing him glorified and lifted up as holy. Are we seeking God’s glory or our own glory? As we’ll see for Haman, his failure to follow God ultimately resulted in his doom and destruction. If we are failing to follow God, our doom and destruction is waiting also.