How can ego affect our relationships?
Proverbs 13:10Pride leads to conflict; those who take advice are wise.
Luke 14:7-11When Jesus noticed that all who had come to the dinner were trying to sit in the seats of honor near the head of the table, he gave them this advice: “When you are invited to a wedding feast, don’t sit in the seat of honor. What if someone who is more distinguished than you has also been invited? The host will come and say, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then you will be embarrassed, and you will have to take whatever seat is left at the foot of the table! Instead, take the lowest place at the foot of the table. Then when your host sees you, he will come and say, ‘Friend, we have a better place for you!’ Then you will be honored in front of all the other guests. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Philippians 2:3-4Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
Pride makes us argumentative and selfish, pressing for what we want at the expense of others. People who are prideful believe they are better than others. The conceited person focuses primarily on themselves, rather than serving others, depriving them of great joy.
Psalm 10:2-4The wicked arrogantly hunt down the poor. Let them be caught in the evil they plan for others. For they brag about their evil desires; they praise the greedy and curse the Lord. The wicked are too proud to seek God. They seem to think that God is dead.
Our pride can keep us from having a right relationship with God. When our ego goes unchecked, we are at risk of rejecting God entirely.
1 Samuel 17:41-44Goliath walked out toward David . . . sneering in contempt at this ruddy-faced boy. “Am I a dog,” he roared at David, “that you come at me with a stick?” And he cursed David by the names of his gods. “Come over here, and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and wild animals!” Goliath yelled.
People with unchecked egos have a clouded view of themselves, others, events, and God, and they assume that they can get what they want without others or God.
Proverbs 21:24Mockers are proud and haughty; they act with boundless arrogance.
Galatians 5:26Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.
An attitude of pride has a negative impact on our behavior and actions, which in turn hurts those around us.
2 Timothy 3:1-5In the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!
2 Peter 2:18They brag about themselves with empty, foolish boasting. With an appeal to twisted sexual desires, they lure back into sin those who have barely escaped from a lifestyle of deception.
Conceited people tempt others to sin. Christians should avoid letting people who are conceited influence the way they see the world.
Habakkuk 2:5Wealth is treacherous, and the arrogant are never at rest. They open their mouths as wide as the grave, and like death, they are never satisfied. In their greed they have gathered up many nations and swallowed many peoples.
If we allow ourselves to become arrogant and conceited, then we will have no peace or satisfaction in our lives or relationships.
1 Corinthians 13:4-5Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude.
When we let love lead all our thoughts and actions, rather than our ego or pride, then we can have healthy relationships with God and others.
Psalm 73:7-9These fat cats have everything their hearts could ever wish for! They scoff and speak only evil; in their pride they seek to crush others. They boast against the very heavens, and their words strut throughout the earth.
When we are conceited, our pride and boasting can bring destruction to other people.
1 Timothy 6:3-4Some people may contradict our teaching, but these are the wholesome teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. These teachings promote a godly life. Anyone who teaches something different is arrogant and lacks understanding. Such a person has an unhealthy desire to quibble over the meaning of words. This stirs up arguments ending in jealousy, division, slander, and evil suspicions.
When we are proud and arrogant, we risk resisting biblical truth, especially when it contradicts what we believe. We care more about being right than about being in a right relationship with God and others.
