Puffed Up

A young man who used to work with me on projects has developed some serious medical problems. He has been diagnosed and mistakenly diagnosed, treated and mistreated. He has found some of his doctors are reluctant to admit mistakes or to tell the patient the straight of it all. Some of that stems from fear of liability and some stems from the the "God Complex." The God Complex is not an isolated medical condition, it can be found in any business where egos become more important than truth. And, when self becomes more important than others.

Revolving your entire focus on self makes for a very shallow world. Yet, over and over in the business climate we must work with people who only think of themselves. It's not just a secular disease of the ego, it belongs to anyone who lets their own ego take control and priority over their desire to please God.

I Corinthians 3:19-21 "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. Therefore, let no man glory in men. For all things are yours."

God warns us about thinking we are so wise that we elevate ourselves above others and Him. A humble spirit in the workplace is God's desire. It is also a very practical piece of advice (well, friend, isn't God's advice always practical, too?)

Nothing turns off employees faster than a boss that is impressed with self. The ego gets so big this supervisor or manager can't see the negative effects on the workforce. I visualize the head gets so big the eyes can't see around its puffiness. I Corinthians 4:6 "And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes: that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another." Puffed up is a funny little phrase that we don't hear used much anymore. Maybe because seeing people puffed up is so common today we have become accustomed to it as a normal way to behave.

We may not realize the negative effects of ego in the workplace from our failure to see ourselves either as others see us or because the effects are so subtle. Someone once asked me if I liked my boss and my reply was, "He likes himself good enough for both of us." The workforce loses respect for a person overly proud of their own self. When you think only of yourself you cannot spend a sufficient amount of time thinking of your employees and the work that benefits the company. I Corinthians 8:1 "Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up (makes one proud), but charity edifieth (builds one up)." Do you think Paul had some of these very thoughts about the church of Corinth that he wrote of eliminating ego over and over? It's not a new character trait, but is always wrong.

Should you find you are just a little proud of yourself, you are just a little better than your employees or your peers, or highly impressed with your own accomplishments - you may need to get down on your knees and ask forgiveness. Spend a little more time thinking about your behavior toward others (your employees, your peers, you family, and others in your community). You are not the alpha and the omega of your business. You are God's child and as such: I Corinthians 13:4-8 "Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth (does not push itself forward) not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away."