Titus 2:2 (NLT)
2 Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be
worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have sound faith and be filled
with love and patience.
Old disciples of Christ must conduct themselves in every
thing agreeably to the Christian doctrine. That the aged men be sober, not
thinking that the decays of nature, which they feel in old age, will justify
them in any inordinacy or intemperance, whereby they conceit to repair them;
they must keep measure in things, both for health and for fitness, for counsel
and example to the younger. Faith, love, and patience, are three main Christian
graces, and soundness in these is much of gospel perfection. [Matthew Henry]
Why do we enjoy watching others—especially rich,
powerful, famous people—"fall from grace"? Joseph Epstein commented
on our need to know and discuss stories about prominent people who have failed:
How delightful to those of us living out our modest lives,
to witness, if only through the media, such ego-filled balloons getting popped
.… When we see someone mightier than we divested of his dignity, stripped of
his pretentions, humiliated in public, we feel comforted by having retained our
own dignity, pretensions, good name. Perhaps after all, we conclude, it is just
as well that we are not so rich, powerful, beautiful, talented. Relishing in
others humiliations is good for our ego …. Even when we know deep down that if
[our local newspaper] knew everything about us, we might be on the cover too. [Joseph
Epstein, "The Sweet Smell of Failure," Town &; Country (April
2012);]
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