Starving our Ego

I was reminded this morning of how insatiable the human ego is. In Mark 10:32-34 Jesus told His disciples of the terrible injustice, mistreatment, and death that awaited Him. Without missing a beat James and John two of His closest disciples are found asking for the privilege of sitting in the most honored places with Jesus in Glory. What nerve! What insensitivity! What ego! Jesus quickly brought perspective by calling them and us to live differently than the world. We naturally want to be in the limelight and Jesus reveals that the way to win out over our ego is to starve it to death. "Whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all" (10:43-44). It is a challenge to find ways to be a servant, to do so in ways that are unnoticed but this is important in starving the self-serving ego within. It still amazes me that when opportunities for secret service present themselves I find my ego tempting me to pass them up. But there is one sure way to starve the pride and that is to pursue service. Read Mk.10:45. This is the example Jesus set for us.