Overcome the sense of loss
Judges (23) Overcome the sense of victimization (Judges 9:1-6)
< Personality Disorders >
When the body is broken, it is a physical disability, and when the mind is broken, it becomes a mental disability. According to such a principle, when the personality is broken, it can be said that it is a personality disorder. A person with a personality disorder has no outward appearance. There is knowledge and fame, there is status and money. However, there are many personal problems. This disorder is difficult to treat. This is because it comes from feelings of superiority and inferiority, which are the feelings of pride, and above all, because they do not acknowledge their disability.
Among the various types of personality disorders, 'self-defeating personality disorder' is a so-called paranoid paranoia, in which there is always a sense of defeat and loss. People with such personality disorders have common symptoms. It is overly sensitive to what is lost and what is not and what is not. That's why I think failure is overly miserable. In other words, there is no room for 'failure'. There are many reasons that make life miserable, but one of the biggest is to think only of success.
Some time ago, young popular singers committed suicide one after another. Why would you commit suicide? It's because they didn't learn the 'space for failure'. They reached the peak of popularity at a young age. I was successful, but I thought that there was only success in life without character formation. So how stressful would it be to keep trying to maintain that success?
That stress goes in two directions. One is extroversion, in which the aggressive psychology is directed outward. They are irritable, irritable, resentful, complaining, and hostile towards others. Another is introversion, in which the aggressive psychology is directed inward. They resent themselves, fall into guilt, and even commit suicide. If you keep holding on to hurt and shame, you will develop a personality disorder that eventually leads to terrifying tragedy. Abimelech, the son of Gideon's concubine, is the protagonist of such a tragedy.
< Throw away your local sentiment >
One day Abimelech, the son of Jerubbaal (Gideon), whom he had given to him by a concubine from Shechem, went to Shechem and said to his mother's brothers. “Speak to all the people of Shechem. Which is better to rule by seventy sons of Jerubbaal or by one man? Remember that I am your bone and flesh (verse 2).”
At that time, Abimelech said, “Do you think that I am tired of you?” and appealed to blood ties and delay in order to win the support of the residents of Shechem in order to realize his ambition. Perhaps it is similar to the appearance of a politician who uses local emotions for the fortress? Although local sentiment cannot be absent, politicians who explicitly use local sentiment are the number one subject to watch out for. Even if you are from the same area, you need to know how to wisely reject such a person.
Eventually, the hearts of the Shechemites turned to Abimelech, and they supported Abimelech with the proceeds of the Baalbrith shrine (verse 4). And Abimelech hired a gangster with the money, went to Gideon's house in Ophrah, and killed all the brothers on a rock except Jotham, the youngest son who had hidden himself. Blood ties and local feelings have resulted in a terrible tragedy.
Loyalty is good, but don't stink of local sentiment. Compared to selfishness, favoritism is a beautiful virtue. But compared to philanthropy, philanthropy can be an enlarged selfishness. It is a great injustice to unconditionally exclude people from other regions because of their affinity. In addition, crimes are committed in the name of sympathy, and envy, jealousy, hatred, malice, and retaliatory murder can arise from false philanthropy.
There is nothing more shameful than passing on to the next generation the 'local feelings wrapped in loveliness' caused by a personality disorder. Do not let your soul be buried in a sense of victimization, hurt, and inferiority so that there is no such pitiful appearance. And with a missionary mindset, replace the narrow thinking system centered on “I” with a broader thinking system centered on “we”. A ‘me’-centered thinking system reduces differences to discrimination, but a ‘we’-centered thinking system raises differences into individuality.
The viewpoint and love of the saints must be greater than they are now. Local feelings are too far from the spirit of Jesus. Jesus' love and concern were broad and unbounded. In the same way, the love and interest of the saints should be broad and unbounded. Always remember that local emotions are a kind of personality disorder that arises from a consciousness of victimization. Overcome them with the love of the Holy Spirit and lead a good society and blessings of tomorrow.