Mobilizing People Who Want to Pray, But Don't!
December 23, 2012American Dream? Or Nightmare?
March 11, 2013The election is over, and some things never change. Life goes on. God is in control. And people—especially God’s people—have no less a responsibility to do everything they can to help others.
Can I take the risk and say that politicians are not the hope of the world? Jesus is. And he told us—you and me—that we are the light of world.
A lot of folks don’t want the government to play Robin Hood, taking from the rich and giving it to the poor. Yet how do we feel about what the Bible demands of us? In simple summary, God’s people should live simply, spend less, and give more.
Queen Esther in the Old Testament is known for her response to her cousin Mordecai who asked her to do the impossible. “Go talk to the king,” he told her, “and plead for your people.” As you probably know, the Jews were facing extermination.
If I may paraphrase Esther’s first response: “You are asking me to do what?! Talk to the king without an invitation?! Are you kiddin’ me?! People have died for that! Sorry, that’s something I can’t do. Besides, my life is going great. I feel like I’ve won the lottery. I have a private cottage, servants, awesome food, a feather bed, and cabinets filled with exotic fragrances.”
But Mordecai was persistent: “Listen,” he said. “You’re a Jew, and either way, you’re probably going to die anyway. And who knows: maybe you’re right here, right now, for such a time as this.”
Somehow in that moment, Esther got it. Maybe she thought to herself, Mordecai’s right. Life isn’t random, and I’m not queen because I’m lucky. I’m queen because God has a higher purpose for my life. This isn’t all about me. It’s about others.
So Esther took a deep breath and announced, “OK, I’ll do it. And if I perish, I perish.”
She appealed to the king, and the Jews were saved. And she didn’t die!
Personally, Esther has taught me a couple of extraordinary principles:
(1) Life isn’t about what God can do for me. It’s about what God wants to do through me for others.
(2) We’ve all heard it said: You can’t take it with you. But, in fact, there is something you can take with you. Forever. It’s what you do for others.
Like Jesus.
Most of our readers likely know the name Jerry Colangelo, former owner of the Phoenix Suns and the Arizona Diamondbacks. His team won the World Series in 2001. For the last several years, he’s served as Chairman of the Board of USA Basketball and led the American effort to win Gold Medals in the last two Olympics.
Yet I’ve heard Jerry say, “I only want two words on my tombstone: HE CARED.”
Why do we remember Esther? Not for her wealth or position, but for her sacrifice for others. She cared.
Like Jesus.
Mother Teresa wrote a short autobiography: My Life for Others. Like Jesus. Jesus and Mother Teresa didn’t come to be ministered to, but to minister—and to give life to others.
How do you measure your life? What are going to take with you? Do you live to give?