"For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you" - Romans 12:3 (NIV).
Ego has been described as a "persons esteem or sense of self importance" Everyone of us needs some dose of ego, because without it one may be assumed to have no value and subjected to all sorts of abuse. Ego drives us to achievement for fulfilment. For with ego one strives to be noticed which can lead anyone to do something good, if it only results into that recognition. Ego can help one with self defence especially if we sense our sense of worth is being violated or dishonoured.
But what if our ego gets ahead of ourselves! For certainly it can happen when any of us has an exaggerated sense of his self. When someone's ego is so puffed up they sort of imagine all the world has to stop to recognise them. An ego puffed up fellow quickly takes offense when he is not recognised as such- like when his name is missed out during an important speech. Hence the reason why some prefer to tactfully stop at "all protocol observed" for the fear of hurting someone's ego by not mentioning their presence.
Everyone of us has a certain ego which as observed is worthwhile but the danger is when it overruns us. Ego can destroy relations as one nurses hurt feelings imagining being once slighted. Ego can make a nuisance of us as we demand that special recognition to calm us down, often at the expense of others. Heads of states have littered nations with their statues as though none was aware of them!
For this reason, believers are urged not to think of themselves "more highly than you ought" but have the humility for there is only "one God and Father of all, who is over all" (Ephesians 4:6). Actually ego can be a torture as it makes one ever restless in search of that special recognition, which may be endless and furtive. Think of
of all those titles some people feel they must add to their names just to feel content.
However, when ego is checked and subjected to the cross one is liberated knowing that in all things "Christ takes the glory!" And the Lord who sees and wills everything will give due reward!
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, help me in all things ever to recognise and give you glory, instead of the urge for self importance, for when I am low you lift me up, this I pray in Jesus's name.
