Who Knoweth Whether Thou Art Come to The
We must be willing to serve God with our positions of honour and trust, even if it means risking our own lives or comfort, in order to fulfill His great purpose of salvation.
F.B. Meyer emphasizes the significance of recognizing our divine purpose in the positions we hold, as exemplified by Esther's pivotal role in her people's deliverance. Mordecai's faith in God's plan highlights that each individual is placed in their position for a reason, and it is crucial to use that influence for God's glory rather than personal gain. The sermon warns against the dangers of self-serving ambitions, reminding us that true fulfillment comes from serving God's purpose, even at great personal risk. Ultimately, those who are willing to sacrifice for God's kingdom will find true life and purpose.
Text
Who knoweth whether thou art come to the
kingdom for such a time as this? Esther iv. 14.
WHAT grand faith was here! Mordecai was in God's secrets, and was assured that deliverance and enlargement would come to his people from some quarter ‑‑ if not from Esther, then from some other; but he was extremely anxious that she should not miss the honour of being her people's emancipator. Therefore he suggested that she had come to her high position for this very purpose.
We none of us know, at the first, God's reasons for bringing us into positions of honour and trust. Why is that young girl suddenly made mistress over that household? Why is that youth taken from the ranks of the working‑people, and placed over that great City church? Why is that man put forward in his business, so that he is the head of the firm in which he served as an office‑boy? All these are parts of the Divine plan. God has brought them to the Kingdom that He may work out through them some great purpose of salvation. They have the option, however, to serve it or not. They may use their position for themselves, for their own emolument and enjoyment, that they may surround themselves with strong fortifications against misfortune; but in that case they court destruction. Their position and wealth may vanish as suddenly as it came; or ill‑health and disaster may incapacitate them.
If, on the other hand, all is used for God, though at the risk of perishing ‑‑ for it seemed to Esther as though the action to which Mordecai urged her meant that ‑‑ the issue is blessed. Those that love their lives lose them; those that are prepared to forfeit them keep them. The wheat grain which is buried in the soil bears much fruit.
Sermon Outline
- The Importance of Knowing God's Purpose
- The Option to Serve or Not
- The Parable of the Wheat Grain
- The grain must be buried in the soil to bear fruit
- We must be willing to forfeit our lives to keep them
- Using our position for God leads to a blessed issue
Key Quotes
“Those that love their lives lose them; those that are prepared to forfeit them keep them.” — F.B. Meyer
“The wheat grain which is buried in the soil bears much fruit.” — F.B. Meyer
Application Points
- We must be willing to serve God with our positions of honour and trust, even if it means risking our own lives or comfort.
- Using our position for God leads to a blessed issue, while using it for ourselves leads to destruction.
- We must be willing to forfeit our lives to keep them, just like the wheat grain must be buried in the soil to bear fruit.