Why do you do what you do? Why do you plan Sunday school lessons for four-year-olds? Why do you go bowling with a group of junior high kids? Why do you sit on the floor with a group of kids every week, trying to explain God’s ways to them, trying to listen to them and bring truth to bear on the crazy situations they face?
Almost anyone who participates in Christian ministry, whether paid or volunteer, whether for children, teens, or adults, would say that somehow, they hope to be a difference-maker. They want to influence other people (maybe, very small people) for Christ.
How do we do that? Each of us might answer that question differently, but we can learn from the difference-makers whose stories are told in the pages of Scripture.
One of the great heroines of the Bible, Esther, made a difference by speaking truth. We can learn a lot about how to make a difference by looking at her life. You know the story. You’ve probably told it to kids in your ministry.
King Xerxes falls in love with Esther and makes her his queen. Unfortunately, the king is led astray by his evil sidekick, Haman. He is tricked into ordering the genocide of the Jews, whom he does not realize are Esther’s people. Esther’s cousin, in challenging her to ask the king to repeal his edict (which could result in her death), says to her: “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 royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:13-14).
Esther is afraid, but agrees she must act to save her people and herself. How? Consider her strategy: She does not rush in and demand anything. First, she goes to the source of all Truth. She begins her quest to speak the truth with prayer and fasting, asking God for wisdom. She courageously tells her cousin: “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16).
So often, I want to speak the truth first and pray later (which means that my prayers end up focused on damage control necessitated by my rashness). Wise people know that God is in control and that his wisdom is the key to their success. The first step of making a difference by speaking the truth is prayer—heartfelt, focused prayer. The first step in speaking wisely is realizing that your own wisdom is not enough—you need God’s wisdom, you need the light of his truth to flow through you. Prayer is what gave Esther both courage and an amazing plan for winning over the king’s favor. Read the story for yourself—Esther’s strategy, combined with God’s amazing provision, is brilliant. She is a perfect illustration of what James wrote about five centuries later: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you” (James 1:5).
Notice how God gives wisdom: not just to a few, not just to the perfect, not just to the powerful, but to anyone. To all. He gives that wisdom unconditionally, liberally, “without finding fault”—without nitpicking or bias. As The message translation puts it: “If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get his help, and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought.”
Esther’s decree, “If I perish, I perish” is a huge turning point for her. Prior to that, she had seemed rather passive, basing all her actions on her cousin’s directions. She mostly seemed to let things happen to her, rather than making things happen. Then her cousin’s challenge—”who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?”—brings something forth in Esther. At that moment, she shifts from follower to leader. From shy girl to decisive woman who, by telling the truth, saves her people from destruction. The first truth she tells is this: Before we act, we must fast and pray. I don’t know anyone who would put fasting in their list of favorite spiritual practices. But you have to admit, when people fast and pray, things happen.
As we consider how our ministry can become more effective, as we try to act on this deep longing to make a difference, we would be wise to follow Esther’s example.
This column was adapted from a chapter of Keri’s newest book, Simple Compassion: Devotions for Making a Difference in Your Neighborhood and Your World (Zondervan, 2009). Learn more at www.keriwyattkent.com. Unless otherwise noted, the Bible passages in this article are from the New International Version.
