The Monday Memo from John Stanko

Memo 939: A Legacy of Service

We finished looking at Mordecai last week and now we want to continue looking at good examples in the Bible of what I am calling the "Proverbs 31 Man" who model and epitomize what we learned that men should be in Proverbs 31. Those traits include:

1. Using leadership power to benefit and not harm those who are weaker.
2. Being concerned for social justice.
3. Honoring women.
4. Serving in leadership capacities as "elders at the gate," where wisdom and justice are dispensed.

This week, let's look at a man whose name is mentioned twice by Paul in his second letter to Timothy. That man's name was Onesiphorus.

WHO WAS THAT MAN?

We read in 2 Timothy 1:15-18:

You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes. May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me. May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day! You know very well in how many ways he helped me in Ephesus.

While it seems that all others were abandoning or ignoring Paul, this man Onesiphorus did practical things that refreshed Paul. When Paul was imprisoned in Rome, Onesiphorus risked disfavor with the authorities by admitting that he was a friend of their state prisoner, and went out of his way to find Paul and minister to his needs. It seems that it was not that easy to find Paul, but Onesiphorus persevered and located the man of God who needed some encouragement and companionship.

Paul summarized what Onesiphorus did in one word, mercy, and wished that he and his household would benefit from the promise that Jesus made: "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy" (Matthew 5:7). Paul prayed that the promised mercy return would not only benefit Oneshiphorus but also his entire household.

WHAT CAN WE LEARN?

We learn from Onesiphorus' example that Proverbs 31 men must be concerned for and nurture relationships. He was not only task oriented but also exerted great energy to sustain and maintain the friendship he had with Paul, even though Paul could in no way benefit Onesiphorus. He first had to exert much effort in finding Paul in Rome and then serving him as Paul needed, not as was convenient for Onesiphorus. Because he had a heart to serve, Onesiphorus found "many ways" to help Paul while they were in Ephesus.

Proverbs 31 men must follow in Onesiphorus' footsteps and use their strength not to cheer on their favorite sports team or build a world of comfort and convenience for themselves. All of us, men and women, must find practical ways to serve others, which may not always be convenient or in our own neighborhood or country. We cannot over-spiritualize the process of blessing others, but should work to meet the needs of other in the love of Christ regardless of how difficult it may be or how much time and energy we must expend to find and then meet the needs of others.

As Paul closed his letter, he directed Timothy to "Greet Priscilla and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus" (2 Timothy 4:19). Onesiphorus had stored up a legacy of blessing for his family, which indicates we are not certain if he was still alive when Paul wrote the letter. Whether he was or not, the point is that Onesiphorus was a blessing to his household because he was a blessing to others. We have to assume he displayed the same mercy to those closest to him as he did to Paul.

Are you laying up a legacy for your family that comes from doing good deeds? Are you willing to devote all that you have to the care of others? Are you interested in power so you can have a title and "be somebody," or are you willing to use your power to encourage and empower others? Onesiphorus is mentioned in God's inspired word not because he preached great messages or taught deep truths. He is mentioned because he helped a friend in the friend's desperate hour of need while God was watching. May you devote your life toward the same end, and may God watch and bless you and yours as distinguish yourself through a life of selfless service. Have a blessed week.

938: Courage

I mentioned last week that Mordecai had a similar story to Daniel for he was in exile from his homeland, a captive forced to leave his native land and live in Persia (probably modern Iran). This was not the only similarity, unfortunately, for just as Daniel was hated and resented in Babylon, so was Mordecai treated in Susa. We read,

After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him and giving him a seat of honor higher than that of all the other nobles. All the royal officials at the king’s gate knelt down and paid honor to Haman, for the king had commanded this concerning him. But Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor.

Then the royal officials at the king’s gate asked Mordecai, “Why do you disobey the king’s command?” Day after day they spoke to him but he refused to comply. Therefore they told Haman about it to see whether Mordecai’s behavior would be tolerated, for he had told them he was a Jew.

When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged. Yet having learned who Mordecai’s people were, he scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai. Instead Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes (Esther 3:1-6).

When Daniel faced his plot that led to the lions' den, he prayed. When Mordecai faced his crisis, he did the same:

When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because no one clothed in sackcloth was allowed to enter it. In every province to which the edict and order of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes (Esther 4:1-3).

It was then that Mordecai uttered his oft-quoted advice to Esther in his appeal to her for help: 

When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:12-14).

COURAGE AND ACTION

Mordecai, like Daniel, showed great courage in a time of crisis. He knew his help came from the Lord, so he directly appealed to Him for help as his first order of business. This reminds me of what Moses said to Joshua: "Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, 'Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance'" (Deuteronomy 31:7). 

David gave his son Solomon this admonition in 1 Chronicles 28:20: David also said to Solomon his son, "Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished" and Psalm 31:24 exhorts us to "Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord." 

I have learned in my lifetime that courage is not the absence of fear; it is learning to act in the midst of or despite fear. When people ask me if I am afraid to travel, I respond, "Yes, but I have learned to manage my fear (most of the time)." When I try a new project or write a book, the fear is there, but I work through it to act on my ideas.

We all need courage, but men are more prone to the effects of fear because we cannot admit we are afraid in order to maintain our facade of control and manliness. It was the women who were the first ones to Jesus' tombs while the men cowered in fear in the Upper Room. Men, what is your purpose? Do you know? If you know, are you fulfilling it? If not, what are you afraid of? Poverty? Shame? Ridicule?

The Church needs you, the Lord needs you, the sisters need you not to be Superman but to be yourself. God has more for you than staying out of trouble and attending church services. He has more for you than serving as an usher in your church for the next 20 years, telling the same people who sit in the same place every week what they can or cannot do (they already know). The world is waiting for you, but are afraid to meet the world head on? It's time for you to take the missions trip, write the book, start the business, or do whatever else has resided in your heart and mind, probably for many years.

I implore you to face the reality of your fear (I am sure Mordecai was afraid; otherwise, why would he have acted so swiftly to intercede for his people?) and take action, for faith without works or deeds is useless. God needs His men to listen to David and Moses and take heart and courage to make a stand in their generation for Him and do more than pray. We cannot allow the women to act alone. We must act as a team, seasoned by courage and motivated by love to be men and women of purpose and serve others. Have a blessed week!

937: A Big Book and a Sharp Pencil

Last week, we began looking at an often overlooked hero in the Old Testament by the name of Mordecai. This man had no official title or position, yet he positioned himself to be a blessing to those around him time and again. He was not paid for the things he did; he just did them because they were the right thing to do. He adopted her cousin when her parents died and watched over her successful ascent to the throne. Then on more than one occasion, Mordecai was in the right place at the right time.

Mordecai was a political captive exiled to a foreign land the same way Daniel was carried away to Babylon. Mordecai could have been bitter or angry but we see no evidence of that behavior in the biblical narrative. Mordecai was not on anyone's payroll so he was not being paid to be vigilant or kind. He was simply God's man who was directed by his values to do good and God was watching and rewarded him in due time. 

THE PLOT

Like Daniel, Mordecai was a blessing not only to his own people but to his captors as we read in this story:

During the time Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, became angry and conspired to assassinate King Xerxes. But Mordecai found out about the plot and told Queen Esther, who in turn reported it to the king, giving credit to Mordecai. And when the report was investigated and found to be true, the two officials were impaled on poles. All this was recorded in the book of the annals in the presence of the king (Esther 2:21-23).

Mordecai could have minded his own business or he could have wished evil on his captors by staying silent concerning the plot he uncovered. Yet that would have been inconsistent with the characteristics of a Proverbs 31 man who we learned a few weeks ago: "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy" (Proverbs 31:8-9). Yes, it's true that the king in Susa was not defenseless or poor, but the plot to assassinate him was not ethical or just. Mordecai could not allow it to go unreported and so he acted, and the king was spared and the assassins executed. End of story? Not quite, so let's read on.

THE REWARD

We read this account in Esther 6:

That night the king could not sleep; so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him. It was found recorded there that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, who had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.“What honor and recognition has Mordecai received for this?” the king asked. “Nothing has been done for him,” his attendants answered (Esther 6:1-3).

The king could not sleep and thought of Mordecai. When the king found out that nothing had been done to honor him for his loyalty, he set in motion a reward to rectify the oversight. We will see in later weeks how this reward involved humiliating Mordecai's enemies, but for now I want you to learn lesson from this story for your own purpose journey. What the king did is a beautiful portrayal of our Lord who is always watching and never forgets what His people do for His cause or in His name.

When you flow in your purpose, you do what you do because you enjoy it and it is the right thing to do for you. It is not about career, promotion, or financial gain. It is to fulfill the truth found in Ephesians 2:10: "For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." This is important because modern culture stresses that men must pay attention to their work and give the best of who they are and what they have to their jobs. That often prevents them from getting involved in good deeds like missions, service in the church, involvement in social justice, and care for the poor.

When men (or women) perform purpose work where they may not be a financial reward, God is watching. I have often said he has a big book and a sharp pencil and he writes it all down. Then one day, when we least expect it, He opens his book, like the king did with Mordecai, and settles all accounts. Mordecai cared for an orphan, served his people, and freely dispensed wisdom, and he did it all with grace and accuracy. May many more men like Mordecai rise up in these days to serve the cause of justice and help those in need, whether or not they have an official title or are paid to do so. Have a blessed week.