Upon My Honor - Queen Vashti

Let’s begin “Upon My Honor” with the one who refused to show any.  I remember reading Esther as a young Christian and thinking that Queen Vashti must have had a good reason for not showing up when the king sent for her.   I mean… we have no way of knowing if she was busy at that moment.  She gave a separate banquet for the women, so she could have been right in the middle of her party; so did the king really expect her to just drop everything to come out and cater to his wishes?  Was he that prideful or competitive to demand that she make an appearance just to make him look good?  Lol!  Oh! I don't have enough room on this page to list how many complaints that I’ve heard from women about this very thing!  Does God expect us to just drop everything for our husbands?    Remember: considering someone else’s need above your own is the very idea that Jesus portrayed for Christianity.  Many women sing, “Make me more like you; oh make me more like you!”  Well, your marriage certainly has the potential to do just that… make you more like Jesus! 

It’s not about esteeming ourselves as less than the man.  It’s all about holding the word of God in the highest esteem; knowing that when you honor God’s word, He will honor you.  In God’s word, we find His order or line-up; and ahead of you, in line, is your husband.  It seemed to all of the kings men that Queen Vashti's decision not to show up at her husband’s request was an unspoken message to everyone that he wasn’t important; at least not as important as what she was already doing.  The men viewed her behavior as irreverent and an insult to all husbands in general. 

We can learn a lot by studying these men’s perception.  It’s good for all of us women to understand that men tend to view and evaluate things differently.   How many times have you cooked something special for someone else but not anything special for your husband?  How good do you look when you leave for work or other places and how good do you want to look for your husband?  Oh, I know... he’s your best friend and he doesn’t care how you look…  Well, since you don't have any "wise men" at your service, I guess I'll have to be the one to tell you that even though he sincerely and honestly says that to you- Please… don’t be stupid!

You could be placing your highest honor onto someone who isn’t even a part of God’s line-up and then all together ignoring the most important people in your life.   How sad to be a woman who yields "her best" to everyone else and then totally misses it with her own husband...  Who we choose to treat  "significant" really matters to God.  And any woman who chooses to treat her husband dishonorably or insignificant need not bother thinking that God’s promises will come to pass in her life.  Give your best to your husband and God will give His best to you.  It’s just like everything else in the word… it’s up to you to believe it and apply it.  Living it will most likely cost you some pride.  I have lived long enough to learn that pride will eventually cost you much more though.  The price that Vashti paid was her position and crown.   I do wonder if she thought about it later and then regretted her decision.  After a divorce… many women do and will.

I know you want to read about equality and your own significance… it’s in here too...  Check back next week and read further as I continue the teaching “Upon My Honor.”

Loving U Like a Sister,

Regina