How To Make Good Decisions Series

Series: God Is Here [#2]

HOW TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS

Esther 2:1-23

Introduction:

I was talking to my brother and we were remembering some of the stupid things we did as children. One of our favorite things to do was hoist our bikes up from the Mulberry Tree and then jump our bikes off of the roof. After a few painful experiences, my brother and I got pretty good at jumping our bikes off of the roof. Now, dad knew something was up because the rims of our bikes were always bent. Just like my brother and I, we all do stupid things- We all make bad decisions. Our decisions are our own.

It had been 4 years since Queen Vashti had been sent away. During this time, King Xerxes had went to Greece to try to take over Athens. He was defeated in the Battle of Salamis and the Battle of Plataea. The Persian Army was much larger than the Greek Army; but they were defeated and humiliated by the Greeks. King Xerxes returned home in shame. He also returned home to no wife, due to his stupid decision to send Queen Vashti away.

Esther 2:1-4 (NIV)

“Later when the anger of King Xerxes had subsided, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and what he had decreed about her. Then the king's personal attendants proposed, "Let a search be made for beautiful young virgins for the king. Let the king appoint commissioners in every province of his realm to bring all these beautiful girls into the harem at the citadel of Susa. Let them be placed under the care of Hegai, the king's eunuch, who is in charge of the women; and let beauty treatments be given to them. Then let the girl who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti." This advice appealed to the king, and he followed it.”

When you make a decision, remember to…

1. Be careful who you take advice from.

The King returned home to no wife and so his attendants decided to invent a way to solve his problem. These men had to come up with an alternative plan since they were part of the reason Queen Vashti was no longer there and the decree could not be changed.

When you make a decision, remember to…

2. Not make your decision based on outward appearances.

There is nothing wrong with beauty; but you need to be careful that your decisions are not based solely upon outward appearances. This beauty contest to find King Xerxes a wife was based only on beauty. Now, God is still in charge. He did give King Xerxes the right Queen. God does not see the same way people see. People look at the outside of a person, but the Lord looks at the heart.

Esther 2:5-9 (NIV)

“Now there was in the citadel of Susa a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin, named Mordecai son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, who had been carried into exile from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, among those taken captive with Jehoiachin king of Judah. Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah, whom he had brought up because she had neither father nor mother. This girl, who was also known as Esther, was lovely in form and features, and Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter when her father and mother died. When the king's order and edict had been proclaimed, many girls were brought to the citadel of Susa and put under the care of Hegai. Esther also was taken to the king's palace and entrusted to Hegai, who had charge of the harem. The girl pleased him and won his favor. Immediately he provided her with her beauty treatments and special food. He assigned to her seven maids selected from the king's palace and moved her and her maids into the best place in the harem.”

When you make a decision, remember to…

3. Consider other’s needs.

Mordecai adopted Esther as his own daughter when her parents died. It was another mouth to feed and another person to watch over. Most of our decisions benefit us; but sometimes, we need to “look out” for others regardless of how it helps us personally.

Esther 2:10-11 (NIV)

“Esther had not revealed her nationality and family background, because Mordecai had forbidden her to do so. Every day he walked back and forth near the courtyard of the harem to find out how Esther was and what was happening to her.”

When you make a decision, remember to…

4. Be on God’s time.

Timing is everything. Just because you do the right thing doesn’t mean that it is the right time. That’s what patience is- Following God’s time. If Esther revealed her nationality and family background at the wrong time, things could have got very bad.