PRIDE, IT’S INSANITY & INJURIES … Ecclesiastes 10:1
He had “it” all … remarkable achievements, longevity in public office but NOW … shamed, ruined, and alone and quite possibly a pauper … spare a thought for the man that rose to be a local hero, a “King” secured in his domain … now condemned, alone in a prison cell.
I feel deeply for him. What future has he? Absolutely NONE … who will hire him, a convicted fraudster … a broken marriage and a dismayed, ashamed family. The “ointment” stinks … Where once it was the “aroma of sweet success”
What leads these renowned luminaries to their almost, deliberate doom and destruction? That’s easy to explain … in short, both a sense of personal invincibility, having toiled hard, and achieved much, and a sense of personal entitlement.
This sense of personal invincibility with little or no fear of opposition, has been seen in the likes of Hitler and Hussein and perhaps, in Stalin too, despotism is the outworking of pride and that with a vicious sense of retaliation. Stars of the music scene, theatre and film are shocked when the public becomes bored with their craft.
The former Mayor Of Ipswich left the “pack” of steady achieving councillors and romped ahead presuming on his Success.
In a recent conversation with a renowned (and humble) church leader we noted that “fallen” and failed clergy have achieved much in their Ministries and felt absolutely confident that “whatever their hand found to do” success would automatically follow … for some in what a moral fall, for others financial lunacy, for others weird perversions of doctrine or ascribing greatness to themselves.
The Scriptures advise us all … mere mortals that we are, to “humble ourselves under the Mighty Hand of God” … if we don’t, circumstances will, others will, and most seriously, God will resist us in our pride lest we become like Lucifer the Fallen.
Oh yes, I feel for Mr Persarle … alone for hours in his solitary cell for approximately a year … I pray, sincerely, that he may consider the erring of his heart and mind which lead him to be exposed as a common criminal, possibly a bankrupt and bereft of those that loved him, honoured him and gave him the respect he was deserving of.
May we all learn that,“sin crouches at the door” waiting to pounce on all of our ego’s and throttle us with grandiose ideals of ourselves … until we touch the “till” or exalt ourselves to an alarming degree, believing our own freakish publicity.