Self-Focus Is Blinding

So the attendants replied to the king, “Haman is out in the court.” “Bring him in,” the king ordered. So Haman came in, and the king said, “What should I do to honor a man who truly pleases me?” Haman thought to himself, “Whom would the king wish to honor more than me?” So he replied, “If the king wishes to honor someone, he should bring out one of the king’s own royal robes, as well as a horse that the king himself has ridden—one with a royal emblem on its head. Let the robes and the horse be handed over to one of the king’s most noble officials. And let him see that the man whom the king wishes to honor is dressed in the king’s robes and led through the city square on the king’s horse. Have the official shout as they go, ‘This is what the king does for someone he wishes to honor!’” “Excellent!” the king said to Haman. “Quick! Take the robes and my horse, and do just as you have said for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the gate of the palace. Leave out nothing you have suggested!” [Esther 6.5-10]

There is nothing worse that thinking one thing and finding out it is another. This is especially true when evil intentions are involved.

I guess the human mind can be quite tricky. We often think things are one way only to find out they are something totally different. And, usually this occurs when our focus is on ourselves.

When our focus is only on ourselves, we are become dangerously exposed to any number of catastrophes. Self-focus is blinding.

Haman had the idea Esther's banquets and the king's call for him were about him. He never once had the idea that perhaps something else was going on. And from the story, we know how it all turned out...

Father, help me to see my circumstances through humble eyes. Help me to purposefully avoid self-focus.