Episode 183: June 2, 2024 - The Worth And Weight Of Wisdom

Eternity Church PodCast

A Sunday morning sermon by Pastor Brett Deal. A few months back, Peter and I had a great time talking to Jim Singleton about the new book he and Kevin Ford had just completed. In a highly distractible world, their premise of attentiveness was intriguing. As they build their case they write: “Establishing healthy boundaries is essential to building long-term trust. We live in an intrusive world… Creating and maintaining healthy boundaries respects integrity and fosters authentic trust.” Looking back last week as we met Vashti, the resolute queen of the Persians, condemned for her actions, we also met Xerses her husband. Hungry to conquer Europe and expand his kingdom, with his inhibitions curbed by a weeklong bender, he decimates his integrity by dehumanizing his queen and foolishly listening to the men around him, worried how her actions could stir up trouble for them at home. Clearly, volatile moods and quicksilver erraticism made it impossible for those around him to create and maintain the kind of healthy boundaries needed to establish true respect and foster authentic trust. Because of this, Xerses lacks applied knowledge. Yes, the kingdom he inherited from his father stretches from Pakistan to Sudan, but he is tall on temper and short on wisdom. This week we will be looking at Xerses, known as Ahasuerus to the Hebrews, and wrestling with the immeasurable value of integrity and the importance of wise counsel. If you want to see the force of wise counsel, take 30 minutes this week to read or listen to the whole book of Esther. Contrast the hubris and foolishness of Xerses' decisions as he listens to the Memucan and Haman at the beginning with his sagacity and fairness as he heeds Esther and Mordecai at the end.