I’m a lover of history. Any kind of history, be it Biblical, American or world history. While researching this lesson I pared it down, and the same applies to individuals.
Sir John Glubb was a British author and lecturer. In his essay, “The Fate of Empires and Search for Survival”, he looked at the lifespan of empires from their origins to their eventual decline. In his essay he said most empires last no longer than roughly 250 years, with many not lasting that long. He also wrote of the reasons why they break down and eventually disappear.
Assyria – 247 Years
Persia – 208 Years
Greece – 231 Years
Roman Republic – 233 Years
Roman Empire – 207 Years
Mameluke Empire – 267 Years
Ottoman Empire – 250 Years
Spain Empire – 250 Years
Romanov Russia – 234 Years
Britain – 250 Years
Glubb’s summary at the end of the essay:
a. We do not learn from history because our studies are brief and prejudiced. (“Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Those who do not remember their past are condemned to repeat it.”) ~ George Santyana
b. In a surprising manner, 250 years emerges as the average length of national greatness.
c. This average has not varied for 3,000 years.
d. The stages of the rise and fall of great nations seems to be:
The Age of Pioneers
The Age of Conquests
The Age of Commerce
The Age of Affluence
The Age of Intellect
The Age of Decadence
e. Decadence is marked by:
Defensiveness
Pessimism
Materialism
Frivolity
An Influx of Foreigners
The Welfare State
A Weakening of Religion
f. Decadence is due to:
Too long a period of wealth and power.
Selfishness
Love of Money
The Loss of a Sense of Duty
g. The life histories of great states are amazingly similar, and are due to internal factors.
h. Their falls are diverse, because they are largely the result of external causes.
i. History should be taught as the story of the human race, though of course with emphasis on the history of the student’s own country.
Adolph Hitler had what he called the 1000 year Reich and it lasted 12 years. 1933-1945
When you apply the fall of empires to individual lives, the same applies. It seems more likely than not, when individuals, families or congregations become affluent, their focus begins to become selfish, and though it does not have to be the case, it usually happens, for we tend to place our faith and trust in the material rather than the spiritual. For our focus no longer is based upon God, but upon self. The call of the world becomes enticing, and in the end is destructive, not only to empires but to individuals.
“O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.” Jeremiah 10:23
“For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
I Timothy 6:10
“And again I say unto you. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” Matthew 19:24
“Ye have sown much, and bring in little, ye eat, but ye have not enough, ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.” Haggai 1:6
“Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, Who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.” I Timothy 6:17-19
“And He said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” Luke 12:15
“But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided.” Luke 12:20
“And He changeth the times and the seasons: He removeth kings and setteth up kings: He giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding. He
revealeth the deep and secret things: He knoweth what is in the darkness, and the Light dwelleth with Him.” Daniel 2:21-22
Eileen Light