Handling Ego Interference In Our Lives As Christians
Everyone on earth has an ego. It’s part of us as humans. And there’s nothing wrong with having an ego or feeling important. The only difference is – how we control it. When you allow ego to affect how you make decisions and determine your moods towards others – then it becomes a problem.
Ego is defined as – your personal sense of feeling superior over others or justifying your self-importance over the rest.
Even though you’re so good and a performer at any position you’re placed at, yet you are such a pain to everyone around you in that environment.
Ego can be spotted anywhere. In your workplace, when you start earning bigger paychecks, or get a job promotion, or maybe win accolades and awards, etc. all that; can build up the ego in your life.
When Ego is allowed in extreme, it causes you to drive God out of your life.
How ego can be dangerous
Though the Bible neither mentions the word „ego“ nor does it address it directly, it certainly calls it out in different forms.
- Proverbs 13:10 – Too much pride causes trouble. Be sensible and take advice
- Proverbs 29: 23 A man’s pride and sense of self-importance will bring him down, But he who has a humble spirit will obtain honor.
If you’ve noticed those around you, you can attest to this. Any person whose ego is wounded, usually, they become puffed up and starts quarreling.
Ego can make you unreasonable, and start acting out insanely. Including fighting or destroying things around you. This destructive effect can affect your friends, workmates, and also relationship with your spouse, etc.
For example, a surgeon may fail to bypass a patient’s blood flow simply because they think they can fix an obstructed artery on time, only to lose the patient. Additionally, the hospital suspends the surgeon and probably they get fired from the job.
So then, how do we handle ego to stop it from becoming destructive in our lives?
- Romans 12:3 – For by the grace (unmerited favor of God) given to me I warn everyone among you not to estimate and think of himself more highly than he ought [not to have an exaggerated opinion of his own importance], but to rate his ability with sober judgment, each according to the degree of faith apportioned by God to him.
- 1 Peter 5:5b, 6 …And all of you clothe yourself with humility toward one another, for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God [set aside self-righteous pride], so that He may exalt you [to a place of honor in His service] at the appropriate time
The best way to handle ego is by replacing any opportunity of exaggeration, with humility instead. Taking the entire focus off yourself and redirecting it towards God and helping others, not for your gain but theirs is the only way ego can be diminished
Humility is more of how others perceive you than you do yourself. Here’s a starting point:
- Stop making everything about yourself, and look at it from another person’s perspective.
- Instead of complaining, appreciate and be grateful for every positivity present in a situation
- Let go of what would destroy you. Don’t cling to your arguments. They will mess up with your emotions and if not careful, might destroy your personality.
- Appreciate what others do within your team or your spouse in your relationship – it will make them find confidence in approaching you on any matter.
- Listen to understand. Let others talk, but listen and figure out how to align your opinion with what others understand from the entire conversation.
- Be kind often. Even on strangers. Lend a helping hand. Greet those you sit next to, on the train or bus. Perhaps, ask if you can pay for someone’s coffee or snack. Buy dinner and share a few bucks with the homeless. Be nice in general, and humbleness will start growing on you.
