A MAN OF HONOR

“So, Haman took the robe and the horse, arrayed Mordecai and led him on horseback through the city square, and proclaimed before him, “Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!” ~ Esther 6:11

REFERENCE: 

Esther 6:6-12

Most men seek honor amongst men. They want to be respected, regarded, and remembered as great personalities. But who is truly a man of honor? Who deserves such high esteem amongst men? Those who seek it? Those who scheme for it? Or those to whom God gives it?

Honor is high respect and great esteem. It is a rare opportunity extended to someone to have something he would not ordinarily have. That is what was at stake in our text. The king desired to honor a man who once spared his life. He would make the highest official of the land clothe him with the king’s robe and put him on the king’s horse (with the royal crest). He will escort him through town, publicly declaring that the man on the horse is a man honored by the king.

Haman, the king’s right-hand man, thought he would be the man to be honored, but it was Mordecai. He saved the king’s life and deserved it, but in God’s eyes, that was not why. There is a disposition of heart that qualified Mordecai and disqualified Haman. Proverbs 29:23 says, “The humble in spirit will retain honor.” This is what God saw in Mordecai. His humility is evident in verse 12 of our text. That was what qualified him for honor, not his heroism.

After dismounting the horse, Mordecai made no fanfare about the parade. He was honored as a foreigner and a captive, yet called no press conference nor took pictures for social media posts. He did not see it as a reason to be high-minded or above his colleagues. Instead, he went back to sit at the gate, at the position he had always been. He returned to his duty post as though nothing honorable was done for him. Can such an attitude be found in you and me?

It takes great men to be given great honor yet, maintain great humility. Mordecai was a great man. Do you want to be great and honored by God? It will rarely come by heroism but by good character and humility. Do not look down on those lower than you; learn to love and serve people. If you seek to please God, be kind to people, be helpful, and not parade yourself as someone important. If you become a man of humility, you will become a man of honor.

PHOTO QUOTE

ADDITIONAL TEXTS:

Proverbs 12:9, Proverbs 22:4, and James 4:6

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PRAYERS:

+ Teach me to humble myself under Your mighty hand, O God, that you might exalt me later.

+ Lord, open my eyes so I may deal with pride in whichever area of my life it is hiding.

+ Father, I seek the honor that comes from you. I receive it right now, and I believe it will manifest shortly.