Deflating Our Ego

 DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

DEFLATING OUR EGO

1 Cor 4:18-21

18 Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have. 20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. 21 What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a whip, or in love and with a gentle spirit?

NIV

More personal information about the people in Corinth, some of them have become arrogant, or as the Greek word here means to be puffed up, which is thinking more highly of themselves than they should. The Greek word phusioo also means to be inflated, that is to have an inflated ego, once again thinking more highly of themselves than they should. We can take a lesson here, remembering to always remain humble, rather the inflated. What is there to have an inflated ego about? It could only be in matters of the world, for when it comes to being a believer in Christ, we all stand on the same solid ground or have equal footing, or standing before the Lord. Paul is making the point that the kingdom of God is not about talk, but about power. We need to remember that any boasting whatsoever in our abilities, our education, or knowledge regarding anything is having an inflated ego or being arrogant and there is no power in that kind of attitude, for it is all human and nothing divine. When we live in the divine power of God, then we are empowered by the working of the Spirit in our lives, and then we are being the person of God, giving all the glory and honor to Him who is faithful to complete the work in us that he began. If we are going to boast, we can only boast about our Lord Jesus Christ. Without the Spirit, we have no power whatsoever and thus we are only left with talk, blabbering about ourselves, puffing ourselves up, and inflating our egos. The other truth which also strikes a chord in our hearts is this comment of Paul’s about wanting to come to Corinth to see them if the Lord is willing. We know that at other times he wanted to go to one place, but the Lord did not permit him. This is living under the divine direction of God. We are reminded that we as people make our plans, but our footsteps are ordered by the Lord. We have to come to terms with the truth from Robert Burns's novel, “To a mouse” when he says that "the best-laid plans of mice and men go astray". The truth of that means that no matter how carefully we plan it does not guarantee success. Yet, if we are waiting and expecting where are footsteps are to go as the Lord wills, then we are going to be exactly where God desires us to be, and doing just what he has called us to do, thus as far as in the eyes of God, we are being all that we can be, a child of the God, doing his bidding in this world, living by his divine will. Whether that defines success in this world or not is not the issue, but as long as we please the Lord, living according to his will, then there no nothing to be puffed up about, for all that we are, all that we have and all that we do is under the divine influence of God. If we live by the ordered steps of our lord, then we must deflate our ego.