Egos and Stones

Ego! We all have one, and whether we admit it or not, we all like to have it stroked. Yet, we may be surprised at how much it consumes of us and our lives and how much it can dominate us. 

Jesus teaches, "But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.(Mar 10:31)" Even we  who would call ourselves his followers, let this statement bounce right over our heads sometimes. In our desires to "be right" our ego will often shine in ways that in any other mindset would cause us to blush.  We will resort to innuendo, name calling, character assassination, maligning, slander, and more. 

• Saul of Tarsus, is the epitome of this example in Acts when he begins the persecution of Christians for being Christians. Present at the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7), he hears the crowd as well as Stephen defending the faith in front of the crowd. Instead of listening, he gets caught up in the frenzy of the "we're right and you can't be" crowd. Rather than listening to what Stephen has to say, he "consents" to the name calling and things that lead to the crowd stoning Stephen, to which he gives his approval of.  He let his own ego outweigh his spirit and the scripture, to consent to taking another man's life.  
• Diotrophes (3 Jn.9) is a good example of ego gone wild and what can happen to a person as a result of letting it happen. 

The question, is why? The answer is because we get hurt and the only way that our psyche knows how to respond is in the same fashion as the crowd that crucified Jesus, or stoned Stephen. We spout innuendos, call names, malign, make fun of, and throw stones. Self centered ego does not consider others, their feelings, or even more importantly WHAT DO THE SCRIPTURES TEACH!  We only know that our ego is hurt and we respond, hate for hate, insult for insult, eye for eye.   Yes, those to whom we are addressing may be wrong!  But, that does not give us the privilege or position of becoming their judge or their executioner. God will deal with them - but in the meantime, He expects us to do what He tells US to do. 

Consider, that EGO - Edges God OUT!  There is no room for God, where ego rules.  The next time you feel the urge to let your ego out, remember that you are chasing God out when you do. 

Lk 22:3,4  Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them. 


Rom 1:28  Furthermore, because they did not think it worthwhile to keep knowing God fully, God delivered them to degraded minds to perform acts that should not be done. 

Jer 9:6  You yourself live in the midst of deception, and because they are deceived they do not know me," declares the LORD. 

Who do you know? God....or yourself? Picked up any stones lately?

Jim