MANIPULATION AND SELF-AGGRANDIZEMENT

From My Perspective - - -

Manipulation is a word that has both positive and negative implications. The positive application has to do with one’s skill and dexterity to accomplish a positive result. One positive example would be a Physical Therapist who assists one who has had Hip Replacement or Knee Replacement Surgery. The task of the therapist is to assist the patient to regain mobility and strength. If left alone, the patient will experience stiffness and limited mobility. An interesting aspect of this form of manipulation is that it can and will be painful at the outset. This is a place where the saying – “no pain, no gain” – has credibility. A negative example is when one is engaged in a negotiation that seeks to control or influence something or someone in a clever, skillful and devious manner. It is done for one’s own personal advantage and/or self-aggrandizement.

Self-aggrandizement entails an action or personal goal designed to increase one’s own influence, power and importance in an aggressive, overbearing or ruthless manner. It gives no thought to the pain, anguish or difficulty it can or will cause someone else. It is self-centered and self-seeking for one’s own personal recognition, position or prestige. Such a person is able to achieve these goals because others become intimidated or have a sense of inferiority to the self-aggrandizing individual. A person who wrote about personal motivation and achievement was Dale B. Carnegie (1888-1955). There are many notable quotes by him: “Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get.” He emphasized: “There are four ways, and only four ways, in which we have contact with the world. We are evaluated and classified by these four contacts: what we do, how we look, what we say, and how we say it.” One last idea: “Take a chance! All life is a chance. The man who goes farthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare.” While some of these ideas and thoughts sound important and of benefit, when they are utilized by a self-aggrandizing and self-centered person, they can be used in such a way that they have a positive result for one person while causing discomfort, anguish and pain for the many persons (especially those being manipulated negatively).

Yesterday’s Blog placed an emphasis on The Inconvenience of God’s Will – especially when a person’s will is in conflict with God’s will. To achieve one’s personal will, some of the behavior and action stated above is utilized in a manipulative way to achieve one’s personal agenda and desired result. Is it right for this to occur? No! Is it how a person who professes faith in God supposed to act and behave? No! The self-seeking, self-aggrandizing and self-centered person has a manner that can (a) be winsome to some who are being manipulated without being aware that this is a subtle or devious intention, and (b) be intimidating to anyone who would want to deny the agenda of the self-seeking person. Some people are gullible to the point where they are caused to believe that the self-aggrandizing person is a good leader. The question that should be asked: “Are they a godly leader?” The conclusion reached should be: “No! They are seeking their own gain and self-interests – not those of God and His people.”

One of the sad realities is that people within the “church” can easily be manipulated to a point where they become de-sensitized. It is sometimes referred to as a malaise - a feeling of unease or depression – that brings about numbness and surrender to events and circumstances. It can become a strong enough influence to the degree and point where people function as though they really accept and like their new state and status. There are many Biblical examples. One of them is in Jeremiah 5:1-13, The Lord presents His indictment against His people. In Jeremiah 5:14-31, The Lord pronounces His judgment against His People. He states: “O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but see not, who have ears, but hear not. Do you not fear me? declares the LORD. Do you not tremble before me? But this people have a stubborn and rebellious heart; they have turned aside and gone away. For wicked men are found among my people…They set a trap…their houses are full of deceit…They know no bounds in deeds of evil…An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land: the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule at their direction; my people love to have it so, but what will you do when the end comes?” This is a sad result and conclusion of Manipulation and Self-aggrandizement. There are and will be many casualties. Be a discerning person who unconditionally is seeking and doing the will of God. May He be your Strength and shield. Consider these things with me.