Drifting Into Monarchy

Human nature being what it is, I suppose we must expect to drift into monarchy by and by. It is a saddening thought, but we cannot change our nature: we are all alike, we human beings; and in our blood and bone, and ineradicable, we carry the seeds out of which monarchies and aristocracies are grown: worship of gauds, titles, distinctions, power.

We have to worship these things and their possessors, we are all born so, and we cannot help it. We have to be despised by somebody whom we regard as above us, or we are not happy; we have to have somebody to worship and envy, or we cannot be content.

Twain, Mark. Chapters from My Autobiography (Kindle Locations 1408-1412). Kindle Edition.

This is why vigilance against tyranny is always necessary.

Twain goes on to explain, “In a monarchy the people willingly and rejoicingly revere and take pride in their nobilities, and are not humiliated by the reflection that this humble and hearty homage gets no return but contempt” (Kindle Locations 1422-1423).

Not so when God is king. God does not have contempt for his people, but He loves them. He gave Himself for them. Serving God is not like serving earthly kings (2 Chronicles 12:8).

It is our nature to worship, and we are to direct that worship to God and away from idols. Only worship of the living God will be truly eternally fulfilling.

We don't have to envy God either because He “richly provides us with all things to enjoy” (1 Timothy 6:17).