The dark side of succession (Part 2)

In last week’s reflection, King David brought his son Absalom home to Jerusalem, but he was not allowed to be in David’s presence. The text then shifts to Absalom’s appearance, and what a description!

Now in all Israel there was no one so much to be praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. And when he cut the hair of his head (for at the end of every year he used to cut it; when it was heavy on him, he cut it), he weighed the hair of his head, two hundred shekels by the king's weight. There were born to Absalom three sons, and one daughter whose name was Tamar. She was a beautiful woman. (2 Sam. 14:25-27)

We know that Absalom hated and murdered his brother because of the rape of their sister, Tamar. Now we have more information in the picture of a handsome young man with a beautiful family, including a daughter named for an aggrieved sister. If this were all we knew of Absalom, we might conclude he was a striking person with a strong sense of family loyalty. As we soon will see, however, these assumptions are misleading.

It is easy to make assumptions about a family business or family members based on outward appearances. Looks, names, material posessions, past successes or failures in the public eye, all give us an impression of who a family member is. In fact, apparent material or worldly success can hide a raft of moral or personal failures. Some of the best looking, brightest, and financially successful people are the most unhappy, disagreeable, and unscrupulous!

Have you known someone that had the outward appearance of success but who was not a good person? How do you assess the credibility and character of business partners or participants in the family business?