March 11 Sin’s Partner

Esther 5:14 Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Let some gallows fifty cubits high be made, and in the morning tell the king to have Mordecai hanged upon it. Then go joyfully with the king to the feast.” This idea pleased Haman, and he had the gallows made.
 
ZARESH was made of the same substance as her husband. One can hear her say, “Kill that nasty Mordecai, Haman. Then you’ll be rid of your enemy. This blanket of bitterness will be gone. Then you’ll have a really good time at Esther’s banquet.” Little did she know she was sentencing her husband to his death.
    But let’s back up a bit. Perhaps we shouldn’t be so hard on Zaresh. Although her words are ultimately her responsibility and guilt, she may have given this evil advice because she longed for peace in Haman and her household. She saw her husband in a constant state of bitter despair and unhappiness. Try as she might, she could not come up with a way to bring Haman out of his unpleasant unhappiness. Who wants to be around such a despondent person?
    Then she had the idea. Surely this dramatic solution would bring her husband home happy. There would be peace in her household again. She would no longer have to hear about Mordecai and Haman’s great bitterness.
    Here’s our lessons. First, men, is your bitterness causing despair in your household? Is your wife willing to go to any length, even finding things to do, so she won’t have to be around you? Think about it. Do you need to be more pleasant, more congenial, more submissive and more forgiving in your home? Do you need to more often tell your wife you love her?
    Second, women, are you seeing an unpleasantness in your husband you can’t quench? Start speaking love and respect to him. You may not feel like it, but do so as an encouragement. Be godly in your language and in your love. Learn to tell your husband how you are grateful for the good things he does. Focus on the good, and you will see how good your marriage can be.
    If you need help for your marriage or other family relationships, get it. Don’t be ashamed. Instead, be hopeful and grateful God has gifted good people to care for marriages and parenting relationships. Life is too short to live in bitterness. Find true joy for your life in God’s true love.
 
Prayer: Lord, guard my tongue to be positive and loving. Help me to remember Proverbs 10:20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is of little worth. Give to me a righteous tongue. Amen.