A HEALTHY EGO

Romans 12:3 New Living Translation

“Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.”

EGO defined:

a. An exaggerated sense of self-importance; conceit;

b. Appropriate pride in oneself; self-esteem.

            It is interesting to me and appropriate based on its’ definition alone, 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 in blue above; an “appropriate pride in oneself”.  The word “appropriate” is open to interpretation here. It’s like saying, “act normal” … but who can definitively tell me what “normal” means? You can’t, because everyone has their own definition of the word “normal”, just like they all have there own definition of the word “appropriate”.  Many times we have a mixed bag. We have many non-believers who have very healthy egos. They “don’t 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, because they are above the fray in their own mind … a rather lofty place to reside and a very 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 haughty spirit? Do you think of yourself as better than anyone else? 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 may get you somewhere this side of heaven, but your accomplishments will hold no eternal value. Any rewards you receive here will be valueless in heaven. It’s like paying $10,000 for what you think is a real diamond ring, only to find out it is fake; nothing more than shiny glass. 

            Find out from scripture what God expects from you.  And remember, God’s motives are pure; he always has the greatest benefit in mind for his children. Until next, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible; The Reformation Study Bible; The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language.