Ego

Midweek Study with Pastor Edith
April 17, 2024
Habakkuk 2:4

I have gotten into a habit of writing interesting quotes and scripture passages down on little 3X5 cards and placing them around the house. Every now and then I pick up something off a table, my desk or even the kitchen counter and out pops a card. That happened to me the other evening while sprucing up the kitchen. Here’s what I read on the card; “Make sure your servants towel is bigger than your ego”, and “Ego is the anesthetic that deadens the pain of stupidity” (ouch). When I turned the card over, I had written a quote from the prophet Habakkuk; “See, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright - but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness”.

How can we make sure we are not arrogant, or puffed up? One way that saved me the other day was to stop and ask myself if I was Edging God Out? In other words; was what I was about to say or do moving past my asking for God’s direction first and just going with what I wanted at the time? Recently, I have found myself in situations where my way of doing things was challenged and I initially wanted to say; “I’ve had more experience at this than you have, so just deal with it”. Thank the Lord that I took a breath and felt the Holy Spirit tell me to “zip it” and simply listen to the suggestions being made. Funny, how I can learn something new, if I am willing to listen.

Our passage for today’s meditation comes from a conversation between the prophet Habakkuk and God. It seems the prophet was growing impatient with God concerning the disciplining of the leaders of Judah who were oppressing the poor. The conversation starts out in chapter 1 verses 2 and following, here is an excerpt; “How long, O Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you ‘Violence’ but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong?”

Can’t you feel the desperation of the prophet as you read those words? I feel it often when I catch a news story about yet another person with power and authority abusing and neglecting those entrusted to them. I feel it when someone calls me on the phone and just keeps repeating the word; “I just don’t get it, I just don’t get it, why doesn’t someone stop the killing?” I feel it when someone says “If God is good all the time, why does it hurt so much?”

Maybe you are getting a bit impatient with God. Trust me, you are in good company, even the disciples felt that way and they were in the presence or God incarnate. Don’t allow yourself to feel less faithful if you question God. The point is, stay in the conversation with God. Listen and let the Holy Spirit get you through one second, then one minute, then one step at a time.

Amen!