Death by Ego

The opening scene of 2nd Samuel 12 is the allegorical confrontation of King David by the prophet Nathan. David had failed to go out to war during the springtime when other kings went to battle.  Instead, while out on the balcony of his quarters he spots the lovely Bathsheba taking a bath.  Well, you know the story of how David impregnated her, had her husband killed and thereby did this awful thing in the sight of God.  The prophet begins by telling the gluttonous king about a rich man who took the only little ewe lamb that this poor man had when he, himself, had so many of his own.  David was incensed and desired to kill the rich man who took advantage of the poor man. It is in the tension of that moment that the prophet revealed to the king the very thing his ego hid from his own eyes…he was the man!  How has your ego killed your vision?

I’m reading the book entitled Ego Is The Enemy by Ryan Holiday (Portfolio 2016). So far, it’s a great read! It tells the other side of history’s story about how men did great things not because they were altogether great, but because they beat back their personal egos for the good of the mission. Too many of us want to do great things because we want others to see us as great people. Holiday says “Impressing people is utterly different than being truly impressive.”  David thought so much of himself that he never let himself think that he would be held accountable for any of his actions, and certainly not by the old prophet.  Perhaps it was his arrogance that made him so myopic. I’m not so sure that David’s ego is the only one out of balance.

We now live in a nation whose leader can arguably be considered egomaniacal, to say the least, but such power requires accountability. Lord Acton is quoted as having said “Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely.”  Perhaps it’s because the ego left unchecked wreaks havoc on whatever one is engaged in. Your ego undermines your vision. Holiday says “Most successful people are people you’ve never heard of. They want it that way. It keeps them sober. It helps them do their jobs.”

Are you teachable?  Are you coachable?  Are you willing to be held accountable?  Have you been intentional about permitting someone or a small group of close friends and family to challenge your thinking, behavior, and attitudes? If not, then you have probably hit your ceiling and will not go much farther in your journey to become what you were destined to be.  If you plan to lead well then you must walk humbly. You can’t be great motivated by image and ego.  Nothing can live in that toxic environment…especially not vision.