What can we learn about stewardship from the king's display of "splendor and glory"? Text Under Consideration “And he displayed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor of his majesty for many days—180 days in all.” (Esther 1:4) Setting the Scene • Ahasuerus (Xerxes I) stages a six-month extravaganza to parade his wealth before officials and nobles. • The event is literal history, recorded with divine accuracy. • Its excess sets the backdrop for Vashti’s dismissal and Esther’s eventual rise—God’s providence quietly weaving through human pride. Observations on the King’s Display • Length: 180 days—prolonged, exhaustive, undeniably intentional. • Audience: “All the people” who mattered socially and politically. • Motive: Self-exaltation, not national relief or the worship of God. • Outcome: A kingdom impressed on the surface, yet spiritually unchanged. Stewardship Lessons Drawn 1. God owns everything; we only manage it. – Psalm 24:1 “The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof.” – Ahasuerus acted as owner, not steward, confusing possession with final authority. 2. Motive matters as much as action. – Matthew 6:1 “Be careful not to perform your righteous acts before men to be seen by them.” – Display motivated by pride becomes waste, no matter how dazzling. 3. Resources entrusted to us should bless, not impress. – 1 Peter 4:10 “Each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve others.” – Contrast Esther 1 with Joseph in Genesis 41, who used Egypt’s wealth to save lives. 4. Excess without purpose breeds vulnerability. – Proverbs 13:7 “One pretends to be rich, yet has nothing.” – Soon after the feast, palace intrigue escalates; the kingdom’s moral fiber shows cracks. 5. Faithful stewardship seeks eternal returns. – Matthew 6:19-21 “Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” – Ahasuerus stored up applause that faded; our stewardship should pursue kingdom impact that endures. 6. Accountability is inevitable. – Luke 16:2 “Give an account of your stewardship.” – Though Scripture does not recount a direct divine rebuke to Xerxes, his reign is remembered more for folly than for faithfulness. Complementary Scriptural Insights • Rich fool’s barns: Luke 12:15-21—hoarded wealth ends in loss. • Solomon’s temple: 1 Kings 8—lavish, yet aimed at glorifying God, not the king. • David’s offerings: 1 Chronicles 29:11-14—generosity acknowledged God as the true source. • Call to generosity: 1 Timothy 6:17-19—wealth is a tool for good works, not self-glory. Putting It Into Practice Today • Conduct a “heart audit”: Why do I want nicer, bigger, newer? Pride or purpose? • Redirect a portion of discretionary spending toward gospel mission or local need. • Practice hidden generosity—give where only God sees. • Build accountability: share budget goals with a mature believer. • Celebrate God’s splendor, not personal status—public praise aimed upward reminds us who deserves the glory. Ahasuerus shows what happens when wealth’s spotlight lands on the steward instead of the Owner. Stewardship that honors God resists vanity, serves people, and invests in eternity. |
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