Ego Food

 

Ego Food

Acts 24: Five days later the high priest Ananias went down to Caesarea with some of the elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they brought their charges against Paul before the governor. ² When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented his case before Felix: “We have enjoyed a long period of peace under you, and your foresight has brought about reforms in this nation. ³ Everywhere and in every way, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with profound gratitude. ⁴ But in order not to weary you further, I would request that you be kind enough to hear us briefly.

 

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Bowing down to the rich and powerful was a lesson in the leadership class I attended. “Feed their ego” was part of the lesson. After doing this for a number of years, I found human success, but felt I failed miserably following GOD.

 

• There were times when I bowed down to celebrities.
• There were times when I worshiped those in power.
• There were times when I overlooked the lack of true relationship with JESUS and flattered people, in hopes of getting my way.

 

The church leaders got their story together and went to present it against Paul. The lawyer started his argument with flattery, showing his alliance with the governor. A few days prior, they met with people who wanted to secretly murder Paul for preaching about JESUS.

 

• GOD wants me to point my life to HIM.
• GOD wants me to be impressed by what HE does every day.
• GOD wants me to give HIM credit for what I give credit to humans.

 

GOD is not impressed by fake flattery. HE has no ego, because HE is the Most High. HE is already the most powerful, all knowing, all seeing being. Any flattery I give to another human in hopes to get something is practically wasted.

 

I mean, genuinely complimenting someone is welcome, but fake flattery to manipulate the circumstance is not. GOD hears every word I say and will use them for or against me when I stand In front of HIM someday. I give my praise to JESUS today, who is my Savior.

 

• Who are you following?
• In the past year, who’s name have you mentioned the most?
• Will you stop flattering the rich and powerful or stop flattering yourself, and point others to the one who has true power, namely JESUS?

Identity Meal

Luke 4: ³ And the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.”

⁴ But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’ ”

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“Aren’t you in charge?” questioned the salesperson trying to poke at my ego. The decision could cost the company millions so my answer had to be correct. “Being in charge is not what is in question right now” was my reply.

• Some people have questioned “my” authority and it made me furious.
• Some people have checked up on me even when I said who I was.
• Some people have doubted “my” role even when they knew what my role was.

“If YOU are the SON of GOD” were the words the devil used to question JESUS’s validity of being the CHRIST. His next ploy was to tempt JESUS into doing parlor tricks with HIS infinite power.  JESUS showed me extreme constraint.

• GOD wants me to grow in power to forgive those who are hard to forgive.
• GOD wants me to grow in strength to have mercy on those who get on my last nerve.
• GOD wants me to grow in courage to speak about HIM instead of easily conforming to what the world would say.

JESUS had the choice of eating a meal to prove HIS identity to the devil or possibly dying because HE had not eaten in forty days. JESUS chose to put HIS circumstance in the FATHER’s hands implying “I would rather die following what is right than to be comfortable for two seconds.”

GOD wants me to do the same. HE wants me to sometimes say “No” to the plot of the world. When the world says “Why don’t you work hard for moments of pleasure and stuff” GOD wants me to think about HIS kingdom and chose HIS way. 

Sometimes I choose pleasure, BUT GOD rewards me when I say “I will not live by bread alone, but by every word of GOD.”

• Are you caught up in trying to prove who you are to people?
• Do you think a title or a contract or a job will define you?
• Can you stop thinking about “what” defines you rather than “WHO” defines you, namely GOD?

Wish Prosperity on Your Enemies

Esther 6: ⁶ When Haman entered, the king asked him, “What should be done for the man the king delights to honor?”

Now Haman thought to himself, “Who is there that the king would rather honor than me?” ⁷ So he answered the king, “For the man the king delights to honor,⁸ have them bring a royal robe the king has worn and a horse the king has ridden, one with a royal crest placed on its head. ⁹ Then let the robe and horse be entrusted to one of the king’s most noble princes. Let them robe the man the king delights to honor, and lead him on the horse through the city streets, proclaiming before him, ‘This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!’”

¹⁰ “Go at once,” the king commanded Haman. “Get the robe and the horse and do just as you have suggested for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate. Do not neglect anything you have recommended.”

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They brought me in a small room and asked me if the other guy would be a good fit for the top position of the company I interviewed for. This was strange to me. “Why ask me?” I thought to myself. If I answer “He’s horrible, pick me” it could show I’m not a team player, on the other hand if I say “He’s great” then I may be giving the position up. What should I do?

• Many times I have had to face my ego.
• Many times I have had to face the choice of slandering versus speaking highly of a person.
• Many times I have had to face getting passed over.

Wishing the demise of someone feels so good at the time, especially if that person has been very irritating to me. When I see them go down in flames I feel great because maybe I can get their spot. BUT GOD desires something different of me.

• GOD wants me to delight when HE places people above me so I can serve as JESUS served me.
• GOD wants me to enjoy when HE blesses people I don’t like, because it shows HE is truly unbiased in HIS view and has even forgiven me.
• GOD wants me to sing praises when HE does great things in other folk’s lives because it shows HIS power and majesty over everything.

Pouting when someone else “wins” is a sure sign of immaturity on my part. In fact, just the thought of someone “winning” is immature. If I am part of GOD’s kingdom then I should delight in what HE is doing all around me. HE loves when I change my pouting into praise. The more I can truly praise HIM for blessing others the more HE blesses me either in this life or the next.

• Are you pouting over someone’s prosperity?
• Are you on the side of slander or speaking well about “that” person?
• Can you realize that maybe your attitude towards other people may be why GOD holds blessings back from you?
• When will you mature and wish others the best like GOD wants the best for you?

Titles May Mean Trouble

Esther 1: ¹⁰ On the seventh day, when King Xerxes was in high spirits from wine, he commanded the seven eunuchs who served him—Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Karkas— ¹¹ to bring before him Queen Vashti, wearing her royal crown, in order to display her beauty to the people and nobles, for she was lovely to look at. ¹² But when the attendants delivered the king’s command, Queen Vashti refused to come. Then the king became furious and burned with anger.

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After years of scratching and clawing my way up, I had finally reached the top! I could finally make some decisions and get things done. I called a meeting of my entire staff so I could meet everyone and give them my high level plan.

One of my employees refused to come to the meeting. I brushed this absence off until she refused to come to my next gathering. I then wanted to get rid of her. I approached her and asked, about the absences. Turns out she was the only one who was supporting a large number of systems and my meetings conflicted with her support.

• Sometimes titles give me an ego.
• Sometimes titles blind me to what’s going on.
• Sometimes titles make me believe I am important.

It seems like titles have made me think people should react to me in a special way. Titles like VP, Senior Director, Manager, Husband or even Dad commanded some level of respect and I craved it. BUT GOD wants me to see something different.

• GOD is the most high so I should look to HIM for my power
• GOD is the being I get my power from and titles are meaningless.
• GOD became a human, giving up HIS title of GOD just to die for me and is now raised up above all with the highest title.

Titles seem to ruin my humility. I do not mean I should not have a title or become a pushover when I have one, rather I should accept whatever title I have as a gift from GOD and treat it with the humility HE has bestowed on me.

• Do you demand respect and are not getting it?
• Are you frustrated with the people who are supposed to be following you?
• Can you point your life to GOD instead of yourself?
• Can you humble yourself before the only being who deserves a title, namely JESUS?

Being Conceited

2 Samuel 24: Again the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, “Go and take a census of Israel and Judah.”

² So the king said to Joab and the army commanders^[a] with him, “Go throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and enroll the fighting men, so that I may know how many there are.”

³ But Joab replied to the king, “May the Lord your God multiply the troops a hundred times over, and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king want to do such a thing?”

⁴ The king’s word, however, overruled Joab and the army commanders; so they left the presence of the king to enroll the fighting men of Israel.

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¹⁵ So the Lord sent a plague on Israel from that morning until the end of the time designated, and seventy thousand of the people from Dan to Beersheba died. 

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“They won’t cut us!” I rationalized to my group.  We are the technology group, “They need us” I said to my team. As I walked the halls, I didn’t feel worried at all; in fact I started getting the papers together to grow my team from groups who would have large cuts.

Of course when the dust settled, twenty five percent of my team was gone and we had to work harder with fewer people. Morale was in the dumps and I had to explain how life was going to be “better.”

• When I think I can’t be touched, I am blind.
• When I think I can’t be taken down, I am on my way out.
• When I think I can’t be beat, I am already defeated.

David wanted to see how powerful he had become for the simple purpose of feeding his ego. I too had my ego fed as I walked around, having a team who could cater to my every whim. It actually felt good to strive to get to the top and actually reaching it. The problem was I thought the title was the destination.

• GOD raises me up for HIS purpose not my ego.
• GOD places me above what I can handle and wants me to take my responsibility seriously.
• GOD brings me groups of people to point to HIM rather than pointing to myself.

GOD doesn’t need another noisy person ranting about themselves. HE hates the arrogant and confuses their words. GOD wants me to rely on HIS power, HIS might and HIS everlasting love. HE doesn’t want me cowering in the corner. HE wants me to bravely move forward trusting that HE knows what HE is doing.

• Are you counting your cash?
• Are you comparing yourself to your neighbors or other people?
• Can you trust GOD enough to allow HIM to get the credit for your accomplishments?

I’m being pursued

John 5: ⁵ One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. ⁶ When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”

 ⁷ “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”

 ⁸ Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” ⁹ At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.

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Boredom was my accepted lifestyle. “I guess I’m sentenced to die here in this go nowhere job”, I thought to myself. Then the phone rang. It was a company who had “heard” about me. Suddenly life ran through my veins. I was once again excited and I could get out of this dump!

• Being pursued by humans feels great because it feeds my ego.
• Feeling wanted by humans is wonderful because it feeds my ego.
• Being needed by humans is magnificent because it feeds my ego.

It feels great getting my ego stroked! I mean when people pursue me for advice or pursue me for me, it makes me feel… I don’t know… better than I thought I was. Unfortunately once my ego is fed, I start thinking I’m better than I really am.

GOD, the creator of universes, the MOST HIGH, the greatest being, decided to pursue me because I turned my back on HIM. In fact the more I run from HIM, the more HE pursues me.

• GOD saw I would not accept HIS ways so HE took the penalty for my sin.
• GOD saw I would try to find my own way so HE placed obstacles in my way until I turned my eyes to HIM.
• GOD saw I would never remember what HE told me so HE placed the HOLY SPIRIT inside me.

Even today HE pursues me. After years and years of walking with HIM, HE still molds my sinful heart towards HIS and guides me through this scary thing called life. HE asked the paralyzed man “do you want to get well?”

There was nothing the man could do to make himself well. GOD pursued him and healed him once the man admitted he needed help and was willing to be helped. GOD pursues me and HE wants me to pursue HIM.

Think of a baby. He/she has all the needs, yet when he/she reaches out and smiles at me, he/she makes me want to do more. The more I seek HIM the more HE pursues me and blesses me!

• Are you trying to pursue GOD?
• How often do you speak to HIM?
• Have you asked HIM “what do you want me to do?”