BEWARE OF A PRIDEFUL SPIRIT

“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 New International Version

EGO defined: a. an exaggerated sense of self-importance; conceit;

b. appropriate pride in oneself; self-esteem.
     It’s interesting to me that the word ‘ego’ has two very contrasting definitions. A person can have a healthy ego or an overblown one. A healthy ego is a good thing to have. Look at the ‘b’ definition; an “appropriate” pride in oneself. Okay, the appropriate is open to translation here. It’s like saying, “act normal” … all right, define “normal” for me. Everyone has his or her own definition of the word ‘appropriate’. An appropriate ego lines up with God’s word.
     We have many non-believers who have very healthy egos. They ‘do not think of themselves as more important than they ought’ at all. We have many Christians who think they are God’s gift to creation and we should be grateful to be in their acquaintance. They are unaware of their condition and cannot be told anything about their pride and arrogance. It’s a rather high place to fall from when their arrogance is revealed.

     Think about your own situation. Look at yourself. Check your heart. Do you have a prideful spirit? Do you think of yourself as better than anyone else? Be honest with yourself. If you do or even think you might, ask God to purge it from you so that you may be pleasing in His sight. Being pleasing in the sight of the world will get you nothing eternal and only shallow, meaningless accolades this side of heaven. Be what God wants you to be and not what you think you ought to be. God’s motives are pure and flawless. Are yours? Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!