Behind the Gate

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?” (Esther 4:14 NIV)

I love the story of Esther.  In the beginning, it is like a Cinderella fairytale.  The king finds favor with the beautiful peasant and marries her.  And she lives happily ever after.... well... not quite.  But why shouldn't she?  She had a rough, poor childhood and suddenly she is surrounded by luxury.  Everything she could ever want is at her fingertips.  But her uncle reminds her of where she came from and what is about to happen.  She can cling to the wealth and security inside her gate of gold or she can step outside the gate and risk everything to help those who are helpless.

Wealth can be a really sneaky thing.  Most of the time it is not suddenly heaped upon us as in a large lottery win.  When something like that happens, it is easy... and fun!... to be generous.  But it usually doesn't happen that way.  We begin our adult lives and we struggle in our careers.  We get small increases in our income.  We figure out some money management.  As our wealth creeps up, we find ways we "need" to spend it.  A bigger house.  A better car.  More channels on the TV.  Finer clothes.  More frequent meals out.  A bigger retirement fund.

We are the people - like Esther - who live inside the gate.  We have the means to reach out.... or lock the gate of gold.  We can feed a hungry family.... or place another gift under an already overflowing Christmas tree.  We can help an uninsured cancer patient... or trade in the paid-off car for a new car payment.  We can volunteer at the soup kitchen or homeless shelter, or watch one of 500 channels on our 60 inch HD TV.

Ann VosKamp says it this way:

Esther hears her Uncle Mordecai's message and it does something to her soul. "You've got to use your position inside the gate for those outside the gate - or you're in the position of losing everything."

Like Esther, perhaps we have been given our wealth (yes, you are wealthy) or power or talent for such a time as this.  Whether it is to help the poor, or the afflicted, or the abused, or the enslaved, or the uneducated, or the hungry, or the homeless, or the marginalized.... whether it takes money, or time, or connections, or a specific talent... you have been given what you have for such a time this.  You can't keep it behind your gate of gold or you risk losing everything.

Take a small step outside your gate today.  You know of someone who needs something... who really NEEDS something.  You have the means to provide it.

Father,
We are among the wealthiest in the world, and yet most of us would say we are not rich.  Open our eyes to how much we have and how little 75% of the world has.  Help us to use what we have to help others.  Amen.