The "Anguish" Of The Affluent.

[For this week's blogs I am indebted to Pastor Sam, who provided me with a summary of Dr. Mac Pier's sermon content.]

When Esther’s female attendants and her eunuchs came and informed her about Mordecai’s behavior, the queen was overcome with anguish. Although she sent garments for Mordecai to put on so that he could remove his sackcloth, he would not accept them. (Esther 4:4)

Sackcloth and ashes, in Old Testament times, were a sign of mourning and despair. Esther’s uncle, Mordecai, took the measure of wearing sackcloth and ashes after learning of the plot to destroy the Jews.

Esther’s first response was to seek to give Mordecai proper clothing to replace his clothes of mourning. But, as anyone knows who has been in deep despair, a new set of clothes was not a viable response to the conditions that led Mordecai to put on the clothes of mourning.

Perhaps some of us are in the same predicament. We see the desperate situation of our brothers and sisters in poorer nations, and our first response is to send “clothing” of our choosing. For some of us, it’s to write a check or mail a care package. But our surface giving has not touched the deeper issues. Like Mordecai and the Jews of old, there are nationalities and cultures today that have been given a death sentence. Today’s Mordecai might not be killed by the edicts of kings, but lives are lost in the crossfire of conversations about sustainability, wealth distribution, compassionate aid, and long-term solutions to poverty. Our Socratic conversations, our donations offered out of our relative abundance, and the “compassionate care package” have become the garments we export to cover the sackcloth of those who mourn… and to cover our own anguish at seeing their condition.

“Although she sent garments… he would not accept them.” Mordecai, in refusing the clothing, gave testimony to the fact that a change of clothes was not a change of condition. The edict still stood, and the Jews were still destined to destruction. His refusal was a statement to his niece Esther: Your donation is insufficient to address the emergency our people are facing. You have to make a bolder step and become personally involved.

Lord, help us to move from making a contribution to being personally engaged. Help us to send the clothing of Your choosing, which is our selves.

Here am I, my Lord, send me.