Esther 6:12
And Mordecai came again to the king’s gate. But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered.

What a picture of envy and bitterness and self-righteous pride and indignation that Haman exhibits. He’s so worked up about a slight from Mordecai that he concocts a plan to kill all the Jews. And when he is forced to honor Mordecai at the king’s request, he goes home mourning, while Mordecai can return in peace to his rightful place. How petty and childish Haman’s behavior seems to us, but the truth is that this kind of behavior is so common in our world today, even among Christians.

The attitude that Haman had was very dangerous, and it ultimately led to his own death. Often in our lives, the outcome of our behavior isn’t so extreme, but that doesn’t make it any less serious or concerning. When someone else succeeds or receives a blessing, do we rejoice for them or start feeling like it should have been us instead? When someone goes against us, are we set on revenge, going to extremes to get payback on whoever has wronged us? Are we bitter and calloused toward others while puffing up ourselves in our own eyes?

There is something very off-putting about pride and arrogance, and it wars against the Sprit of God in us because God hates a proud heart. And if we see these kinds of attitudes developing in our lives, we should be quick to recognize it and make it right. We aren’t immune from these kinds of behaviors and attitudes as Christians, but we do have the aid of God’s Spirit in lessening their hold on us and allowing us to overcome feelings of bitterness and envy.

Let’s be more like Mordecai, able to walk away with his head high and no malice in his heart, and less like Haman, full of the destructive kind of pride that can tear a person apart. There is no joy in our hearts when we are constantly trying to be superior to everyone around us or have the best all to ourselves. But it is the humble heart of a servant that can return in peace to his post while the prideful heart goes away mourning.