Be a Blessing, not a Curse

Text: Est. 6:1-3
More Lessons: Lk. 5:1-8
Bible Reading in one Year: Habakkuk 1-3

One of the reasons why God granted you the opportunity to be alive, working, or studying in school is to be a blessing to all who come your way. It gives God pleasure to see you use your position, profession and occupation to bless humanity. God has also programmed that through that position you will enter into his blessings and increase for your life, if only you will discharge your responsibility with a sense of service, not as a hireling. Unfortunately, many believers don't know this truth, and they handle opportunities to bless those that come their way, their offices and their business centres carelessly. They discharge their duty without a sense of commitment. Some even use their position to oppress others. For such people, their promotion has become a symbol of pain and curse for men. In our passage today, Mordecai, an exile in Babylon, was privileged to serve as one of the keepers of the door of the King's chamber. It was his responsibility to defend the king. When his fellow door keepers plotted to assassinate the king, he exposed their plots. That was the beginning of his promotion in that land. If he had kept quiet, the plot may have succeeded. Mordecai may even have lost his job after all, because a new king may not likely retain the same gate keepers.

In Exodus 1:15-21, the Hebrew midwives were handed over a decree from Pharaoh: When you are on duty and you see a Hebrew woman give birth to a son, kill him; if it is a girl let her live. It was an order from Pharaoh and whoever disobeyed was doing so at the risk of her life. But the midwives approached their duties as midwives with the fear of God, and let the male children live. They were determined to be a blessing through their profession and not to be to tool in the hand of a superior officer to inflict pains on subordinates.

When these midwives were confronted for failing to carry out the king's order, they simply explained with wisdom why it was difficult to implement the king's decree. Therefore, God blessed them and provided for them and their household (vs 20, 21). Be determined to be a blessing to others through your profession, occupation, and position of authority. Make up your mind that no one will use you to cause pain and affliction on others. Be determined to discharge your responsibility with every sense of commitment and loyalty, expose every kind of wickedness as Mordecai did.

One thing is sure; your good deed will speak for you someday, somewhere, even in places where you are not physically present to speak for yourself. God will surely remember your good deeds. Y our day of honour is at hand.

Prayer/Action
* Repent of every mistake you made in using your position to cause pain for others.
* Ask the Lord to grant you the grace to serve humanity through your present occupation.

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