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The View from Up Here

Buttons.

We all have them, and when they get pushed, they can get us in trouble. Mine have on more than one occasion.

Perhaps you can relate. When our buttons get pushed, the reaction it triggers can be catastrophic. Buttons, though, are a sign that we think things should be our way. They tip our hand to show how we think of ourselves.

Haman’s rage wasn’t triggered by injustice or legitimate offense—it was ignited by a bruised ego. One man’s refusal to bow became, in Haman’s eyes, a reason to annihilate an entire people. His pride transformed a personal slight into a genocidal vendetta.

That’s a bad button.

This is what unchecked pride can do to a man. Haman wasn’t merely insulted and angry; he was consumed. Instead of managing his emotions or questioning his own sense of entitlement, he escalated the issue. That’s the danger of letting ego drive our decisions—it blinds us to truth, overinflates offenses, and often leads to destruction.

Men, we may not plot revenge on a national scale, but it’s easy to fall into Haman’s trap. How often have we let a perceived slight—someone disrespecting us at work, a family member challenging our authority, a stranger cutting us off—spark disproportionate anger or bitterness? How often do we allow resentment to grow unchecked, silently justifying our frustration, rather than confronting it with humility?

The story of Haman serves as a warning. Pride, when left unchecked, can fester into rage. And that rage, when indulged, can destroy relationships, reputations, and even entire legacies. Scripture warns that “pride goes before destruction” (Proverbs 16:18 NIV). Haman’s downfall began the moment he made his ego the center of his world.

But there’s another path.

Christ calls men to a different way—one marked by humility, forgiveness, and strength under control. Jesus Himself, though deserving all honor, did not demand it from others but chose to serve (Philippians 2:5-11). That’s the example we’re called to follow.

Take a moment to examine your heart. Are there wounds caused by pride you’ve been nursing? Are there people you’ve written off or judged harshly because they didn’t treat you the way you think they should have?

Let’s let Haman’s failure become our red flag. Repent where you need to. Release bitterness before it hardens. Ask God to cultivate in you a spirit that chooses grace over vengeance, humility over pride, and peace over petty conflict.

Prayer: Father, expose the places where pride is shaping my reactions. Help me to respond with humility and grace. Teach me to lay down my ego and trust You to defend and define me. Amen.

Reflection: Is there any area in your life where your pride has taken over? What would it look like to surrender it to God today?