Haman's Choices

So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself? (‭‭Esther‬ ‭6:6 KJV)

Haman did not have the opportunity to listen to Jesus’ explanation of choosing the least in order to be placed higher:

For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. (Luke 14:11 KJV)

Instead, Haman’s ego was so large he believed the king was asking him to design his own honor. Don’t we fall into that same error? Narcissism is defined as “excessive interest in or admiration of oneself and one's physical appearance.” We see narcissism in selfies, a person quite alone, admiring their own body or their acquisitions. Based on his own desires, Haman told the king what should be done to honor himself:

And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honour, Let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head: And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour. (Esther 6:7-9 KJV)

I suggest you read the chapter – better yet, the entire book of Esther to get the whole story, but suffice it to say that Mordecai received what Haman desired for himself. Haman was the “king’s most noble” prince who delivered the horse and led the proclamation. Can you imagine his anger? Haman had, in previous verses, planned Mordecai’s death and prepared the gallows for the hanging:

And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king's house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him. (Esther 6:4 KJV)

That made it convenient for the rest of Haman’s story. Get the specifics in the book, but his end was:

So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified. (Esther 7:10 KJV)

Most of us haven’t prepared to take another person’s life, but it is possible to damage their lives by not considering them as individuals, simply an extension of ourselves – subject to our desires, not theirs.

Our Lord has an answer for this narcissistic attitude :

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33 KJV)

What “things”? The ones listed in the previous chapter 6 verses. What will we eat, drink, wear; basically, what we have in life. That is added to our life when we seek first the kingdom of God. Please note that self adoration is not included. That wouldn’t happen if we paid attention to the two commandments that Jesus said were the basis for all others:

Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Matthew 22:36-40 KJV)

Haman chose to elevate himself, hating Mordecai for not feeling the same way. Haman chose to honor himself, but instead walked in front of a horse, proclaiming honor to Mordecai. Haman chose to destroy Mordecai – and all Jews – but the gallows he built took his life, and those who attempted to cleanse the kingdom of Jews were themselves killed.

The Bible tells us we cannot serve two masters. If we put ourselves first, we are not serving God – which is the first and great commandment.‭‬‬