Sometimes it is the “but when’s” that distract us from focusing on the most important things in life and cause us to major on the minor things instead. Haman the Agagite, the main antagonist in the book of Esther, is a perfect example of someone who was “majoring on the minors” or what I refer to as “majoring on the Mordecai’s”.

And Haman went out that day joyful and glad of heart. But when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, so that he neither rose nor trembled before him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai. (Esther 5: 9– ESV)

After leaving the palace one day, following a private feast with King Ahasuerus and Queen Esther, Haman was “joyful and glad of heart.” But when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, where, as usual, Mordecai did not pay homage to him, Haman’s joy quickly diminished and turned to wrath.

However, Haman was able to restrain himself long enough to arrive home and gather his wife and some friends together, so he could boast of some things. He boasted of his palatial promotions, pocketbook, progeny (ten sons are named in the book of Esther), and private parties (he had just attended a feast with the King and Queen and would return the next day to yet another private feast with them). Haman certainly had many major accomplishments in his lifetime about which to brag as recorded in Esther 5:11(ESV) –

And Haman recounted to them the splendor of his riches, the number of his sons, all the promotions with which the king had honored him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and the servants of the king.

But when he was finished with all of his touting, Haman said:

Yet all this is worth nothing to me, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate. (Esther 5:13-ESV)

Haman’s impressive resume failed to satisfy, because Mordecai the Jew would not pay homage to him. The “but when’s” caused Haman to take his eyes off the major issues in his life; sometimes, the “but when’s” cause us to do the same.

Such is often our discontent when we major on the minors, or on the “Mordecai’s” in our lives. All of God’s blessings, all of His good and perfect gifts, diminish in light of that one Mordecai we do not have. We major on the minors, or we major on Mordecai and lose sight of the most important things in life, and we lose sight of God’s estimation of our value.

We cannot major on the minor, “but when’s, which derail our walk with the Lord. Instead, with a dogged focus, we must “fix” our gaze on Jesus.

Who or what is your Mordecai? On what Mordecai are you majoring?

Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him, he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12: 2 NIV)

Prayer –

Lord, forgive us for the times we have allowed the minor details, anxieties, and distractions of this world to consume our attention. We confess that we often major on things that do not have eternal significance. Holy Spirit, gently correct our gaze. Help us to lift our eyes from the noise and fix them firmly upon Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. Reorder our hearts to love what You love and to focus on You above all else. May Your greatness become our focus, making all other worries grow strangely dim. In Jesus’ name, Amen.