Read
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
Philippians 2:3
Reflect
July 18, 64 A.D., was a warm and windy night — perfect for spreading a destructive, city-leveling fire. Starting in an area where there were many shops, the fire quickly spread throughout the city, perhaps being aided by lawless mobs who broke from their looting just long enough to throw torches into buildings that were not yet on fire. By the time the fire was finished, more than two-thirds of Rome lay in charred ruins.
Today, we commonly associate this fire with the phrase, “Nero fiddled while Rome burned.” History tells us that there are a number of problems with that statement. First, fiddles had not yet been invented. And second, according to the historian Tacitus, Nero was 35 miles away when Rome caught fire. But that image of Nero remains — a leader who is indifferent to the suffering of his people. And the truth isn’t far off from that.
Nero was notorious for doing whatever Nero wanted, even if it meant that the Roman citizens would suffer. History lays a number of murders at his feet — including that of his brother, mother and wife — and there is even speculation that if he didn’t cause the Great Fire, at least used it to accomplish a selfish agenda that included the building of an opulent new palace and the persecution of Christians, who he blamed for setting the fire.
Perhaps Nero was confounded by the way that the Christians conducted themselves. While he was busy tooting his own horn and ensuring that he was treated like a god, the Christians had built a reputation that honored their Savior. They only for refused to worship the pagan Roman gods, but they also for reached out to the poor, the sick and the needy. The legacies of Nero and of Christ-followers also cannot be more different. The love of Christ spread around the world and eclipsed the fame of every Roman ruler combined. Meanwhile, Nero is seen today as a textbook example of how not to lead and rule, a classic narcissist who would have fit in well with today’s worst crime lords.
What can we take away from this in our daily life? Most — perhaps all — of us life in places where Christianity is not overtly persecuted, but that is no guarantee. In one way or another, all of us will have to give an account of our faith. Nero himself once said, “Hidden talent counts for nothing.” I would amend that to say, “Hidden faith counts for nothing.” If our faith is not evident to those who encounter us, then of what good is it?
More than that, our faith should lead us to follow the example of Christ and the words of Paul: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” The world is plenty good at doing most things for its own gain, pleasure and benefit. We’re not expected to live a life where we don’t in some way profit and enjoy things, but our actions should never be simply to advance selfish goals. In that regard, things are no different for Christians today than they were in Nero’s time. Our message is significantly more resonant when we look out for the needs of others more than our own.
Reflection copyright © 2024 Doug DeBolt.
Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
