Politicing

Politics has become of a dirty word in our society; it has continually been associated with party lines and backdoor entrances into options that otherwise would not even be considered.  Most politicians are automatically put into the category of the Biblical tax collector.  However, God has been speaking to me about politics for a while now.

Proverbs 18:16 says, "A man's gift makes room for him and brings him before great men."
The Message says it this way: "A man's gift gets attention, it buys the attention of eminent people."

In the the book of Esther, Queen Vashti refused to cajole her husband, and for that she was permanently banned from the king's presence so as to make an example out of her.

Eventually the king decided he would allow "the girl who best pleased him" to become queen in place of Vashti.  It was only after a year of preparation that Esther was allowed in the presence of King Xerxes. 

After Esther became queen, her uncle Mordecai exposed a plot of two men who were attempting to kill the king.  Not long after that, Haman convinced (bribed) the king to allow for Jews to be freely murdered on a given day.  When Esther approached the king on her people's behalf, the king told her that she could have whatever she desired, even half the kingdom, before he even heard her request.

In the two days leading up to her request, Esther prepared fine dinners for both Xerxes and Haman, but before the second night came, Haman plotted to have Mordecai hanged.  However, on that very same night the king discovered that Mordecai was actually the man who had previously saved his life, and he was honored more than any other man in the kingdom. 

In the meantime, the dinner ensued and Esther revealed that she truly was a Jew and that Haman's plot put her very life and family in jeopardy.  While the king went to cool off from the matter, Haman begged Esther for his own life; when the king returned he accused his servant of molesting his queen and ordered Haman be hanged on the very gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. 

The king gave Esther Haman's entire estate which she then immediately appointed her uncle as the head of.  There was a new decree sent out allowing Jews to defend themselves and their families which led, not only to a victory for the Jews, but also to Mordecai being ranked as second in command of the kingdom only behind King Xerxes himself.

Here's the politics of it all:
Vashti
Banished for not accommodating her husband.
Haman
Gave his gift of silver and got an irreversible decree passed.
Mordecai
Devised and worked a plan to bring his niece into the queen's seat.
He was also honored above all men because he worked to help the king prosper.
He also received a huge estate and became a leader in his country strictly based upon his connection to Esther.
The Jewish People
Had their lives spared because they were the people of Esther.
Esther
Went through "training" to prepare herself to become the queen.
She was allowed into the presence of the king although she was not invited because he favored her.
She was granted her request, before she asked for it, because she was well-pleasing to the king.
Her enemies were destroyed in order that she may live.

I believe it is time that good Christian men and women rise up and politic.  We need to make sure that we know who to know-not only Christ, but also people in our community that have pull or the ear of someone else who has pull.  Also our local elections are forth-coming, and it is our responsibility to make sure that the people in office are connected to the right side with the right heart.   

Like we've heard it said before... "It's not what you know so much as who you know."