“So, you’re a President and a CEO?” This slightly overstated question was posed to me with a touch of friendly, sarcastic inflection by a former associate in the world of broadcast media. For my first job out of college in 1990, I toiled in the sports department at a small market television station. I enjoyed it, met a lot of interesting people, and covered some exciting events…but it wasn’t fulfilling. More than anything, the experience humbled me. In 1994, I left that world behind with a bruised ego and an understanding that I needed to adjust my priorities.

I recently had the opportunity to reach out to my old media colleague for the first time in many years. He needled me in a good-natured way when he saw my new title in the signature line of an email I had sent him. I chuckled a little before saying, “Being a President or a CEO would just give me a big head. But being President and CEO keeps my ego in check.”

Our ego is one of the most unique features of how God wires us. It is a mixture of self-awareness, self-confidence, and self-discipline. Over the years I’ve discovered that the ego is often a testing ground for two important aspects of living a life of faith. The first measures how important God’s influence is in our everyday living. The other is how much we think our influence should matter to others in their everyday lives.

Maintaining a healthy ego is a balancing act between opportunity and humility. For the person in a leadership position, it is also knowing what to ask for. In 1st Kings 3:5-12, after King David died his son Solomon was preparing to ascend to the throne. In a dream, God appears to Solomon and says, “Ask what I should give you.” After reflecting on all that had transpired to place this opportunity before him Solomon replied, “Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?”

Solomon’s willingness to ask for insight over sovereignty inspired God to grant his request, saying to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, I now do according to your word. Indeed, I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you.” This is where the reference to someone having the “wisdom of Solomon” originates.

Leadership without humility will never be as wise as it could be, especially when those with authority ask for what will merely keep them in power, instead of what can help them become a more effective leader. How might our ego respond when given the opportunity to influence others? Here are some ways to ponder whether our ego is healthy or unhealthy:

An unhealthy ego Edges God Out, Eliminates God’s Opportunities, and Erodes Godly Obedience.

A healthy ego Embraces God’s Optimism, Explores God’s Openheartedness, and lives through Enlightened Grace-filled Obedience.

Each of us has the title of President AND CEO of our own faith witness. To offer our best goes back to the question posed to Solomon – What should we ask God to give us?

May we have the wisdom to ask for what we need more than what we want.

The Rev. Dr. David Weatherly