Love Overcomes Pride

DAY 156
2-28-10
ESTHER 1-3


Good Morning!

Those pesky Jews! Just like Daniel and his three friends, who would not compromise their beliefs; Mordecai would not bow to the king’s main man, Haman. There was an atmosphere of pride that existed among the Babylonians and then the Mede and Persians that was to be their down fall. Can you imagine a person having so much pride that they were willing to kill thousands of people because one guy would not bow down?

"When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged…Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai's people, the Jews."

Obviously, I don’t know anyone who has pride to that extent; but looking back in history, it’s clear it doesn’t take much pride to cause a person to sin and then to fall. Although none of us know someone as evil and prideful as Haman, we ourselves can very easily suffer from more subtle forms of pride: arrogance; selfishness; and greed. These forms of pride focus on self and can keep us from living a life focused on God and our neighbor.

Jesus’ summation of the entire law of God cannot be overstated or preached too much. In fact, if really practiced, it would come closer to ridding us of pride that anything else…

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matt 22:37-39)

Barry