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Lessons From Alexander The Great

The story is told (one among many) that after conquering many kingdoms, Alexander the Great was finally returning home. However, on the way back, he fell ill and the illness took him to his death bed. With death staring him in his face, Alexander realized how his conquests, his great army, his sharp sword and all his wealth were of no consequence now. He longed to reach home to see his mother’s face and bid her his last adieu. But alas, he had to accept the fact that his sinking health would not permit him to reach his distant homeland. So, the mighty conqueror lay prostrate and pale, helplessly waiting to breathe his last.

He called all of his generals and told them, “I will depart from this world soon; I have three wishes — please carry them out without fail.”With tears flowing down their cheeks, the generals agreed to abide by their king’s last wishes.

“My first desire is that my physicians alone must carry my coffin.” After a pause he continued, “Secondly, I desire that when my coffin is being carried to the grave, the path leading to the graveyard be strewn with gold, silver and precious stones which I have collected in my treasury.” The king felt exhausted after saying this. He took a minute’s rest and continued, “My third and last wish is that both my hands be kept dangling out of my coffin.”

The people who had gathered there wondered at the king’s strange wishes. But no one dared bring the question to their lips. Alexander’s favorite general kissed his hands and pressed them to his heart.

“O king, we assure you that all your wishes will be fulfilled. But tell us why do you make such strange wishes?”

At this, Alexander took a deep breath and said, “I would like the world to know of the three lessons I have just learned …. lessons to be learned from the last three wishes of King Alexander. I want only my physicians to carry my coffin, because people should realize that no doctor on this earth can really cure any body. They are powerless and cannot save a person from the clutches of death (Ecclesiastes 8:8). So let not people take life for granted.

The second wish of strewing gold, silver and other riches on the path to the graveyard, is to tell people that not even a fraction of gold will come with me. I spent all my life entertaining greed and power, earning vast riches, but cannot take anything with me. Let people realize that it is a sheer waste of time to chase wealth (Proverbs 23:5).

About my third wish of having my hands dangling out of the coffin, I wish people to know that I came empty-handed into this world, and empty-handed I shall go out of this world” (Ecclesiastes 5:13-15; cf. Psalm 49:16-17; Job 1:21).

With these words, the king closed his eyes, breathing his last.

Alexander the Great left us with the following lessons:

1) Your health is in your own hands, look after it (Proverbs 3:7-8; Proverbs 4:22; Proverbs 12:18; Proverbs 16:24).

2) Wealth is only meaningful if you can share and enjoy it with others while you are still alive, kicking and healthy (1 Timothy 6:17-19; cf. Romans 12:13).

3) What you do for yourself, dies with you,  but what you do for others will live forever (Hebrews 11:4) .

—Author Unknown