Apples of Gold

Self-preservation seems to be a pretty common inherent tendency. Not only do we instinctively attempt to avoid pain and hurt but we also have a desire to not only survive but to thrive in our daily lives. I don’t have any grandchildren at this time, but from what I gather from those of you that do, if anything could override your consideration for yourself, it would be your grandkids! The stories, the pictures and the glow that emanates from your face as you share about the antics of your kids’ kids makes those of us that have not experienced this look on in wonder and confusion. 

This makes the atrocities committed by Athaliah Queen of Judah so much harder to understand and perhaps gives us reason to seriously consider what self-preservation, or selfish motivation in general can lead us to do. To better understand Athaliah, let’s take a Quick Look at where she got her DNA. Athaliah grew up in the royal family. She was married to Jehoram, king of Judah. She was also daughter of Ahab, King of Israel, and don’t forget her mother, Jezebel. Her grandfather was Omri, King of Israel. 

Perhaps her marriage to Jehoram, King of Judah was more political than romantic. Upon the death of her husband, their son, Ahaziah briefly became the next king. Let’s pick up the storyline here:

When Athaliah, the mother of King Ahaziah of Judah, learned that her son was dead, she began to destroy the rest of the royal family. But Ahaziah’s sister Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram, took Ahaziah’s infant son, Joash, and stole him away from among the rest of the king’s children, who were about to be killed. She put Joash and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah, so the child was not murdered. 2 Kings 11:1-3

You have likely already done the math and realize that Ahaziah’s children, were Athaliah’s grandchildren. Her desire to be queen was so strong that it drove her to have her grandchildren murdered. If you finish the chapter in 2 Kings you will see that she will face the consequences for this in a few short years. 

Yes, this is an odd topic for a devotional, but I believe it is worth our time and consideration. The self-preservation that drove Athaliah resides in all of us. 

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. Philippians 2:3-7

Most of us are not longing to be put in a humble position. Influence, power, and respect sound enticing but unseen, dismissed and overlooked are not attractive or sought after. How often do you see someone stepping down from their position in order to take one with less notoriety or even compensation? We are in danger of having the heart of a Pharisee when we allow self-preservation to drive our interactions with those around us. 

The greatest among you must be a servant. But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. Matthew 23:11

One of the warning signs that we are in self-preservation mode is that we become threatened or angered by those around us who offer a perspective that differs from our own. As we progress down this road we will often find ourselves surrounded by an echo chamber filled with yes men who purport to not only agree with everything we say, but believe it to be profound and astute. Those who might offer suggestions that would improve upon our proposal or even protect us from potential pitfalls, have either left the room by choice or sit by silently, feeling any input would be futile at best. The irony of this approach is that rather than burgeoning our status it is actually heading down the path to ineffectiveness and disenfranchisement. 

When Jesus noticed that all who had come to the dinner were trying to sit in the seats of honor at the head of the table, he gave them this advice: When you are invited to a wedding feast, don’t sit in the seat of honor. What if someone who is more distinguished than you has also been invited? The host will come and say, Give this person your seat. Then you will be embarrassed, and you will have to take whatever seat is left at the foot of the table! Instead, take the lowest place at the foot of the table. Then when your host sees you, he will come and say, Friend, we have a better place for you! Then you will be honored in front of all the other guests. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. Luke 14:7-11

Hmmm, that last part sounds strangely familiar! I think Jesus is saying something like this: When you enter a room, rather than saying, “Here I am!” say “There you are!” Perhaps with a presidential inauguration around the corner this quote from John F. Kennedy during his inaugural address would be apropos:

“Ask not what your country can do for you -ask what you can do for your country.” 

Let’s take a few minutes to examine our perspective and see if it is time for a tune up. As followers of Jesus our goal is always to point to him and not ourselves but from time to time we find we have allowed self-preservation to get in the way.

And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself. John 12:32