I am not made for politics. I get upset when the candidates are not kind in their speeches during a debate. I think they should get along and truly listen to one another. Maybe they could even hug at the end or at least give a friendly high-five. I would definitely make the other candidates uncomfortable and unsettled if the debate went my way. My problem is I want others to like me. I do not want to fight or even have a minor disagreement. I would rather us eat popcorn together and laugh over silly stories. In my little world, everybody should get along.
However, the truth is that not everyone is going to like us (even though I think we are amazing!) When we live for the acceptance of others, we remove our focus from God’s acceptance and calling over our lives. We can do everything “right” and still be “wrong” in the eyes of some.
Mordecai, whose story is found in the book of Esther, exemplifies someone consistently doing what was right. He raised an orphan cousin by the name of Esther. He gave her wise counsel in protecting her Jewish heritage so she would not be targeted by prejudice in the royal courts. When Esther became queen, Mordecai still checked on his adopted child to ensure her well-being. When a murderous plot came against the king, Mordecai informed Esther so that the king’s life was spared. Mordecai refused to bow down to an evil man named Haman and was willing to risk his life in doing such a noble deed. Besides all of that, it was Mordecai who encouraged Esther to risk her life to save her people from the murderous plot by Haman that would have wiped out every Jew in the entire kingdom. Mordecai wrote letters to help the Jews so that they were able to defeat the enemy. These actions are still celebrated thousands of years later during the Jewish holiday of Purim. Mordecai had remarkable achievements including being promoted to the highest-ranking official in the kingdom.
Esther 10:3
Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Xerxes, preeminent among the Jews, and held in high esteem by his MANY fellow Jews, because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews. (emphasis mine)
Did you catch that? Mordecai was held in high esteem by “many” fellow Jews, but not all. This a reminder that you can do everything right and still have relatives or others not esteem you. Mordecai saved a nation of people, helped rule an empire, championed rights for the Jews and yet some did not respect him.
In our lives, we will experience those who do not like us. However, if we live trying to gain their approval, we are not living for the approval of God.
Galatians 1:10
Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
We cannot serve the Lord and please people at the same time. Not everyone is going to like us along the way, but that is not the goal for our lives. To make an eternal impact, we must do what is right, which is accepted by some and not by others. We must choose to live for God alone.