Times, Moments And Men!: Disposable Or Indisposable?
Esther 4:14
NIV
[14] For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”
“ And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this !”
Great words from Mordecai to Queen Esther to remind her why she, a foreigner, was made a Queen. This was at a critical time in the lives of the exiled Jews!
When the news of the extreme suffering that the exiles were going through and the need to find solutions was made known to her she initially dragged her feet until her uncle made her understand what was probably unknown to her- God has placed you here for the redemption of His people!
Mordecai did not stop there he further added “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place,” Esther, my dear you are not indispensable!
How many people see their rise to influence as God’s divine arrangement for a purpose? How many understand that whatever they possess was bestowed by God for use in His service?
Have we not read what Jesus said regarding privileges? Read it;
Luke 12
KJV
48+ ——-“For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.”
How easy it is to forget this and act as if what or who we are is the result of our efforts therefore we owe no one anything! Who, what or wherever we find ourselves may it be known to us that God planted us there not only for the physical but also for a divine purpose. And should we fail Him, He can raise an alternative!
We see these unfold every day but fail to recognize that God is involved. These manifest themselves as “ conflicts and rivalries” It happens when a person(s) in authority acts in a way to suggest he /she is indispensable! So a rival group emerges.
Though on the surface “conflicts and rivalries” present a group with a challenge physically, yet in the spiritual realm sometimes it is the doing of the Lord.
I’ve seen this phenomenon unfold in many congregations when either a song’s leader, teacher, preacher, leadership etc; etc as a result of the admiration and praise showered on him/ her becomes arrogant and develops the feeling/sense of indispensability! These act as if without them a congregation cannot function!
Have you not heard of some describing a group in the same congregation as “ rival/parallel etc leaders” who must be stopped? Yes, that is a sign that God is raising an alternative to do His work! When we fail God He will raise an alternative to replace us! Period.
Beloved, “rival leadership” emerges when existing leadership fails to deliver on their mandate, and sees themselves as “ indispensable “. We see this in politics when voters vote opposition parties into office to replace a ruling government!
Have you not seen this before in your group, when hitherto unknown replacements emerge spontaneously from among the audience, mostly persons no one has ever thought could perform the functions assigned? Oh, I have!
A new song leader emerges, a new bible class teacher takes up a bible class, new leadership is installed and suddenly positive results are the order of the day. Nobody is indispensable as far as God is concerned. We are disposables when our use is over.
Anytime and anywhere there is a “ rivalry “ anyone exercising authority must sit up and do their own self-examination! Have I become arrogant, have I developed the mindset of being indispensable? Though not all rivalry/conflict is the doing of God, some are out of selfish ambition yet some are His doings!
May we in authority or influence remind ourselves at all times that ;
Proverbs 16
KJV
18+ Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Proverbs 11
KJV
2+ When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.
Mordecai told Esther, “You are not indispensable, if you fail to act as expected of you, God will find us an alternative! “Hear him again;
“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place,”
God can replace me, you etc so let us serve with humility and not with the feeling/sense of indispensability!
A word to the wise is enough!