“My little finger is thicker than my father’s loins.” (1 Kings 12:10, NKJV)
There are various figures in the Bible that can be identified as narcissists. In the previous teaching we looked at three explicit narcissists: Goliath, Nabal and Nebuchadnezzar, and in this teaching we will briefly look at a couple of others. We use their profiles to find out more about the mental illness that is narcissism, and to thus offer from a Biblical perspective a solution to this perverse state.
To summarise: To consistently have a large pool of people that can feed his/her megalomania, the successful narcissist has almost perfected the art of social masks. For this reason they are also called sociopaths. He/she can be particularly hearty and friendly, socially cultivated, or at times obedient and servile. He/she is often a well-rehearsed actor who can simulate the entire range of emotions in various situations. Yet it is hard for him/her to constantly maintain the facade, and thus one finds that in unguarded moments their true emotions may come to the fore. All these collective characteristics of narcissists can clearly be seen in the lives of certain Biblical figures.
If Satan and Adam were the first prototypes of narcissism, Cain was certainly the first full-blood narcissist. In previous teachings we wrote quite a bit about Cain (read the teachings of Day 181-182, 288-289, 302-305, 643 and 814 if your memory needs refreshing). A few characteristics and accompanying deeds that arose from these teachings can easily be cast as a summary of the typical characteristics of narcissistic personalities:
- Cain is called a “tiller of the ground” (Gen. 4:2). He becomes the prototype of the natural man who finds it almost impossible to escape his carnality and the secularisation that goes along with it.
- If Jude 1:11 speaks of “the way of Cain”, it connotes that this is also the prototypical road of the evil one (1 John 3:12), in other words narcissists, in their web of self-obsession, fall prey to “the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will” (2 Tim. 2:26).
- As “tiller of the ground” Cain became a sign of the believer that operates his faith in a carnal manner, in so doing only changing the contours of his own flesh, not offering any real sacrifice that is acceptable to God (Gen. 4:12a). Tiller means “to be enslaved, to serve the self”. If these sacrifices of religiosity are brought forward they open the way for misleading spirits to enter the temple, and they harden hearts to an even greater extent, renders you legalistic and cools your love for Christ. You start wandering, like Cain (Gen. 4:12b), loosened from your calling and purpose in Christ.
- Narcissists find it very hard to be obedient to the will of God. They measure everything according to its cost to the self, thus making it impossible for themselves to walk in the will of God. If one knows what God asks, and yet do not do it, you walk “the way of Cain”.
- This brings the narcissist to a point of hopelessness in his walk of faith. Because “the flesh lusts against the Spirit” (Gal. 5:17), he/she must constantly put on a mask in all spiritual matters. External religious manifestations of spiritual behaviour (on stages, in front of cameras, in the Christian spotlight) thus suits them, as it is used to feed their ego.
- In a situation where the narcissist encounters someone that is more talented/beautiful/successful than the narcissist, or if someone sees through the narcissist’s facade, the person will immediately render this force as persona non grata. Like Cain he/she will not hesitate to commit (character) murder (1 John 3:12).
- The narcissist has a history of fleeing – like Cain (Gen. 4:11-12).
- Jealousy is one of the clearest “works of the flesh” (Gal. 5:19-21) found in the narcissist, like in Cain, and then James 3:16 becomes true: “For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.”
In Jude 1:11 Cain is associated with Korah: “Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.” (We have also written a lot about Korah – have a look at the teachings of Day 191-94, 200, and 206-211.) The spirit of Korah mainly works within the individual’s desire to be acknowledged in spiritual matters, to control the spiritual authority, is fed by accusations and supported by discontent for which someone in authority is blamed, resulting in a ganging up against the established order. The spirit of Korah is in essence narcissistic.
We can look at various other figures in the Bible and clearly see narcissistic characteristics. Pharaoh, who could not deal with not getting his own way (a narcissistic tendency); Saul, whose illusions of grandeur caused him to persecute David to no end. Absalom too was a classic narcissist – externally attractive, with a formidable, admirable head of hair (2 Sam. 14:25-26) who even wanted to usurp his father David’s position as king, seduced by populism (2 Sam. 15:6).
The later Solomon displays clear narcissistic tendencies, especially because he had such an insatiable desire to always have more: “Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them.
I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure …” (Ecc. 2:10). Yet he was never satiated, and at the end it was all for nothing.
Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, was also a spoilt brat and supreme narcissist. In 1 Kings 12 we read that his desire for popularity led him to lead the people of God. His echoing of those around him reveals his lack of an own identity, and the following words reflect his conceit: “My little finger is thicker than my father’s loins.” (verse 10).
Ahab, Jezebel and Atalia are three figures who not only acted in a narcissistic manner, but who also show clear manifestations of the spirit of Jezebel. We wrote extensively about this in the teachings of Day 462-463.
From various seminal sources on narcissism we find the suggestion that the root of this mental illness is shame. In the following teaching we will conclude this short series on narcissism.
- Selah: Try to link shame and narcissism.
- Read: Amos 1-9.
- Memorise: Amos 5:19.
