An out of control ego never helped anyone.
Supreme pizza is the best.
It’s my favorite because the supreme pizza has a large number of ingredients and a variety of toppings.
That is why it’s called supreme.
Some people resemble a supreme pizza because of high-level talent and a variety of skills. Their internal ingredients create a sense of superiority.
A supreme pizza is awesome, but a superior self attitude is not. Many of us are blind to feeling superior to others.
I must honestly admit I have struggled with pride, ego, and personal supremacy.
Personal supremacy
Supremacy is the state or quality of being supreme.
Personal supremacy is a 2020 play on words.
Personal supremacy is unattractive. Have you ever met anyone with an attitude of supremacy?
Maybe it was you. Please do not think you’re above it.
Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he falls. (I Corinthians 10:12, NKJV).
Personal supremacy is nothing new. Jesus shared an open message about those who thought they were superior to others.
They were known as Pharisees.
Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples:
The Pharisees and the teachers of the Law are experts in the Law of Moses. So obey everything they teach you, but don’t do as they do. After all, they say one thing and do something else. They pile heavy burdens on people’s shoulders and won’t lift a finger to help. Everything they do is just to show off in front of others. They even make a big show of wearing Scripture verses on their foreheads and arms, and they wear big tassels for everyone to see. They love the best seats at banquets and the front seats in the meeting places. And when they are in the market, they like to have people greet them as their teachers. (Matthew 23:1–7, CEV)
The Pharisees felt superior to everyone. They were all show and no substance.
The Pharisees were – do as I say, and – not as I do kind of people. Pharisees were well trained in religious studies. We commend that. But the Pharisees did not live what they taught. Religion blinded them to the truth.
The Pharisees were posers at local events and took the best seats. Their goal — to be seen. Let’s say the Pharisees were parading in religious pride.
Ever been there? I have. My self-righteousness and pride were on-blast in my early years as a Christian. I was proud of my Bible knowledge, and I showed it off.
I now realize the older saints were not impressed. They offered grace for my zeal and diligence. They also realized I would outgrow it. The older saints were good at tolerating a baby in the faith (like me) who boasted in knowledge.
Pride is a blind spot for all of us.
Christian pride
Christians are not exempt from pride. It is a hidden enemy and hard to discern alone. God resists the proud.
Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (I Peter 5:5, NKJV)
God’s antidote for pride is to embrace humility. A “not so easy” formula. Similar to pride, humility is hard to recognize. The moment you realize how humble you are, you lose it instantly. Have you heard of the story of the man who received the reward for being the most humble man at his church? He went home and hung the award on his wall. Oh?
Humility receives more stars than pride.
Dan Rockwall says:
- Humility learns; arrogance knows
- Humility listens; arrogance talks.
- Humble leaders serve others; arrogant leaders serve themselves
- Humility opens hearts; arrogance builds walls.
- Humility joins; arrogance stands aloof.
- Humble leaders connect; arrogant leaders disconnect.
Writer Ralph Marston on the power of confident humility:
Whatever you’re doing, a sense of superiority will make you worse at it. Humility, on the other hand, will make you better. The moment you think you’ve got it all figured out, your progress stops. Instead, continue to advance and improve by reminding yourself how much more there will always be to discover. Confidence is positive and empowering, but arrogance is deadly. Be confident, but not at the expense of your respect for others.
Pride feeds a sense of superiority.
Humility feeds a better you.
Egos is unbecoming. We are as blind to our ego as we are our pride.
Egos are deceptive. Egos build air castles — a false sense of superiority.
We often confuse ego with confidence. Personal ego is different from confidence. Confidence is based in truth and reality. Personal ego is based on the seduction of self.
Ego is delusional.
Some develop their ego from past success. Like the high school athlete who won the gold medal at the state level. The gold medal is a great accomplishment. But it’s the best/worst moment of their life. Some high school athletes stay high school athletes their entire life. Their ego is bigger than life. They are heroes of the past.
These former high school stars live in cities all around the world. Their past accomplishments have a current ego rating of 10+.
Great accomplishments are great, but we become better when great moments add to our humility.
Someone coined the following acronym from the word ego.
E=Edging
G=God
O=Out
A big ego blocks the ability to surrender. God demands the surrender of self to become His child. We edge God out when our ego is the in-thing. Christianity is defined by giving our life away.
Our ego is hidden until God puts his finger on it. We are good as long as we ride the wave of our reputation. Our ego comes to the surface when life throws unexpected outcomes. As long as we keep up with the Joneses our ego is in check. Our ego will manifest when the car gets repossessed, or we are forced to remove our kid from dance lessons.
Suddenly, our pride and ego come out of the closet. God help us. Right?
Following Christ demands the surrender of our pride and ego. Pride, ego, and all selfishness must be crucified.
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20, NKJV)
Wow — “I no longer live.” This is the heartfelt cry of many Christians. They desire to give their lives fully to Christ. But the struggle with pride and ego is very real.
The Apostle Paul described it this way:
Not only that, but we also who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. (Romans 8:23, NKJV)
Every Christian knows the groans of dealing with our shortcomings and trials. We groan because we are trapped in a body that has needs and desires opposite of Christ.
Check Your Out of Control Ego and Pride at the Door
Unfortunately while on this earth we will struggle with actions and behaviors like ego and pride that are a part of our humanity.
Who will deliver us?
For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38–39, NKJV)
Nothing (ego or pride) can separate us from God’s love.
And that is humbling.
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I would love to hear about your struggle or your comment on the post.
