Do you know people that think they are “all that”? They think they are superior, better than, more intelligent, etc. In other words, they have a big ego. I like the word think because none of us are really “all that”. We owe everything we have and everything we are to God.
I like the phrase, your ego is not your amigo, but I can’t take credit. I heard it from a yoga instructor whose classes I sometimes practice on YouTube. If I’m honest, a lot of “yoga talk” gets on my nerves. I prefer that the instructor just tell me what to do and cut the chatter about Mantras, Chakras, Oms, Drishti. and such. I also wonder who came up with the English names for poses. Down dog, camel, cow, cat, crocodile, corpse, and my personal favorite, dead bug. As usual, I digress but this phrase stuck with me.
Anyhow, what is ego? It is an exaggerated sense of self-importance, which usually results in an excessive preoccupation with self. EGO means we “edge God out” because we put ourselves in His place.
The ego says:
- I am what I have
- I am what I do
- I am what other people think of me
- I am in control
- I am separate from God
We are so much more than what we have, do, and what others think of us! And we certainly are never separate from God. The bigger our egos are, the less room God has to work in our lives.
Throughout the Bible, there are examples of inflated egos and it never turns out well. Going back to the very beginning, Lucifer had an inflated ego and wanted to be at the same level as God. As a result, he was banished from heaven. (Isaiah 14:13-15) Then, in the garden of Eden, Eve was tempted by Satan because he told her she could be like God. (Genesis 3) And we know that didn’t end well for her, or us for that matter.
As I’m sure we all have, I have come across lots of people with big egos in my life. This has always turned me off but, if I’m honest, mine has gotten the best of me at times. In particular, I sometimes try to control outcomes when I should be trusting God to do so. How in the world do I think that I can manage things better than He can? But sometimes I do.
In addition, as a new author, it’s been challenging not to focus on how many “likes”, “shares”, and “follows” I am getting, instead of the importance of spreading my MESSage. After all, the message is about and for Him and not me. Even if it just resonates with a few people, I am following His guidance and making a difference.
The opposite of ego is humility. Humility causes us to honor God and treat others as better than ourselves. In the Bible, we are called to live humbly as indicated in the Scriptures below:
“What does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God”
Micah 6:8
“All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble”
1 Peter 5:5
If we are humble, God promises that He will lift us up. (James 4:10) As you can imagine, It is so much better for us to be lifted by God in His way and according to His timing than to lift ourselves by our own egos. Proverbs 22:4 says, “Humility is the fear of the Lord; its wages are riches and honor and life.”
REFLECT
So how humble are you? Are you edging God out of your life, or are you learning how to forget yourself more and more each day? What will you do to ensure your ego doesn’t get the best of you?
