Keep Your Nose Out

SCRIPTURE: Esther 3:3-4 Then the king’s servants who were within the king’s gate said to Mordecai, "Why do you transgress the king’s command?" Now it happened, when they spoke to him daily and he would not listen to them, that they told it to Haman, to see whether Mordecai’s words would stand; for Mordecai had told them that he was a Jew.

OBSERVATION: This is where the entire problem started -- the hatred of Haman; the plot to annihilate the Jews; the building of a gallows; the fasting a praying; Esther risking her life by going in to the king; Haman's death; the death of his family and the death of thousands of others. It started right here with some servants who couldn't mind their own business.
First, they felt like they had to tell Mordecai what to do. They all bowed when Haman came along. Not because they wanted to, but it was the law of the land. And if they had to do it, then everyone better do it. Compromised and legalistic living is like that. It looks around to see what everyone else is doing. It has an unhealthy fascination with everyone else's behavior. Conviction living isn't like that. Personal conviction isn't concerned with what everyone else is doing or not doing. Mordecai stood while everyone else bowed, just as Shadrach, Meschach and Abed-Nego stood when everyone else bowed. Just as Daniel prayed though the king's edict said not to pray. Just as Jesus healed on the sabbath though all of the religious elite said not to.
Then, not happy with just telling Mordecai what to do, they took it the next step. They told on him. They ratted him out. They became the bowing police and told Haman that Mordecai was not bowing for him and why he wouldn't bow, because he was a Jew. Apparently, before this Haman hadn't noticed. it is very likely that Mordecai wasn't making a showy display of his conviction. He just quietly, perhaps in a dark corner or wherever he happened to be, refused to bow. It wasn't for show. It wasn't for revolution. It was a matter of personal conviction. he didn't need attention. God saw his heart and his actions. It was for Him.
Conviction doesn't look around and conviction doesn't show off. It just acts.
So, the king's servants, these of lowly position and supposedly dedicated to serving the king, these end up stirring up trouble that upsets the entire kingdom. They do it just by being busybodies. Just by sticking their nose in where it doesn't belong. They are responsible for great disaster.

APPLICATION: What a great contrast between Mordecai, a man of great conviction and courage, and these busybodies who supposedly serve the king. It is Mordecai that is elevated to position, not them. They just cause trouble.
In addition to learning from Mordecai's conviction, I can also learn from these troublemakers:

• Don't stick your nose in where it doesn't belong. These people may have felt justified in what hey were doing, even as if it were their duty. It wasn't. Romans 14 says, "Who are you to judge another man's servant?"
• Divisive talk has devastating results. James talks about the power of the tongue and the wildfire that it can start. The divisive talk of these servants started a wildfire that led to many deaths.
• Look at yourself. Instead of attacking the actions of others, take the opportunity to consider your own convictions and behavior. People with opposing convictions give us a unique opportunity to do that.

PRAYER: King Jesus, I am Your servant. I want to make sure that my words and actions always serve to build up Your kingdom -- never tear down. Amen.