In Esther, chapter five, verse thirteen, although Haman had riches, glory, power, and status, he was unsatisfied and unhappy. Mordecai had strength of character, godly convictions, and assurance in God. Haman knew that Mordecai was the better man and hated him for it. In God’s sight, greatness is never in riches or power of position but in faithfulness, commitment to Him, and pursuit of His righteous goals on earth.
The bitter drop in his cup deprived Haman’s life of all sweetness. He had not learned the wisdom of setting pleasure against pain, joy against sorrow, satisfaction against annoyance. Much less had he taught himself to look upon the vexations and trials of life as blessings in disguise. His was a coarse and undisciplined nature, little better than that of a savage, albeit he was the chief minister of the first monarch in the world.
And yet all Haman’s good fortune is embittered to him as often as he sees the hated Mordecai.
Self-admirers and self-flatterers are self-deceivers. Haman, the higher he got, the more impatient he was of contempt, the more enraged. The affront from Mordecai spoiled all. A slight affront, which a humble man would scarcely notice, will torment a proud man, even to madness, and mar all his comforts. Those disposed to be uneasy will never want something to be constrained.
Such are arrogant men who have much to their minds. They have not all to their mind since it is nothing to them. Many call the proud happy, who display pomp and make a show. But this is a mistaken thought. Many poor cottagers feel far less uneasiness than the rich, with all their fancied advantages around them. The man who knows not Christ is poor though he is rich because he is utterly destitute of that which alone is true riches.
There are people today like Haman who behave in this manner to those who live like Mordecai. They see something different in that person, which they cannot attain through riches. The Haman people figure they can access everything with riches until they realize people similar to Mordecai. Why could I not gain this through my wealth? The situation puzzles the wealthy because they can get anything at a price, but the people who live like Mordecai are priceless.