Oprah and Eckhart Tolle discuss in chapter 2 of the online class for the book A New Earth, the ego’s quest to establish superiority and inferiority as it relentlessly seeks to evaluate people and position itself.
Let us evaluate why nothing satisfies the human ego and how continually wanting keeps the ego alive.
Oprah intuitively said, “Wanting keeps the ego alive much more than having.”
Before Opah’s comment, Eckhart had this to say that preceded his comment: “The ego is always comparing itself to others to find some superiority somewhere.”
The tendency of the ego within us to continually compare ourselves to others, evaluate people (often prematurely before we really know them), and presumptuously make stereotypical judgments of people; it will sabotage your relationships both personally and professionally.
The apostle Paul grasped this revolutionary and life-changing revelation writing to the church in Corinth declaring, “For we dare not make ourselves of number, nor compare ourselves with some who praise themselves, but measure themselves by themselves, and compare themselves with one another. You are not wise” (2 Corinthians 10:12).
Comparison is cancerous to one’s identity because there will always be someone who is better or less than you in one area or aspect of life.
Eckhart said: “That’s very interesting, you can see yourself in many situations because the ego always looks out, when you enter a group of people or meet new people, it wants to position itself somewhere. Am I more handsome than this person? ? “Am I more knowledgeable than this person? Or am I richer than this person? Or is this person richer than me? So he tries to position himself and that leads to a sense of superiority or inferiority and both are ego. .”
The danger is the sin of presumption (which the Bible calls “the great transgression”), as we arrogantly and often prematurely try to evaluate people, place labels on them, and judge others.
“Who can understand their errors? Cleanse me from hidden faults. Also preserve your servant from arrogance; let them not lord it over me; then I will be upright, and I will be clean from the great transgression” (Psalm 19:12-13) .
Such sins of presumption and comparison occur even within the church, where brothers and sisters compare their forms of worship and the means by which they individually and collectively serve God. It opens the door to pride, arrogance, strife, and every evil deed.
Humanity also in their quest for self-realization often almost reaches the place of self-exaltation, where they arrogantly and wrongly compare themselves to the divine. The irony, however, is when you humbly reconcile, embrace from the heart, and identify with the Creator; He will freely impart to you his essence, likeness and divine power of him.
However, many, tied to their ego, seek to live in their own self-sufficiency, thus hindering their full capacity if they had simply connected lovingly with deity. Dangerously, some even venture to compare themselves to the Almighty. Certainly, historically, nations throughout time have tried to lord it over other countries on earth, which quickly led to their demise and downfall.
The United States of America currently acts as the global police force and the bully of the planet. Blinded by its own sanctimoniousness and self-proclaimed national identity (albeit globally deceitful and illusory), the US is rapidly losing international credibility, as evidenced by the devaluation of its currency.
“All nations before God are as nothing, and less than nothing and vanity are reckoned to him. To whom then will you be like God? Or what likeness will you compare to him?” (Isaiah 40:17-18)
The United States (as well as other nations that pursue war and economic imperialism as a foreign policy) is currently being shaken by God so that it can wake up to its own arrogance and futility in labeling much of what it does around the world as godly. and well. Surely God will not leave blameless any man, political party, or nation that misappropriates and misuses his name.
“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain” (Exodus 20:7).
That promise of punishment and justice also applies to Hollywood filmmakers and composers who carelessly and casually curse God without premeditation.
Job while going through a difficult time in his life in his bitterness and complaints began to speak ill of God. The Lord in due time visited Job, answered him out of the whirlwind, challenged him, and said, “Who is this that darkens counsel with words without knowledge? Now gird up your loins like a man, for I will demand an answer from you.” .Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? (Job 38:1-4)
As someone who lived in Asia for three years (and loved doing so, while traveling through the world’s most populous continent where two-thirds of humanity resides), I noticed that many people and religions tried to please God even what men did with her hands. This is also another form of comparison, a futile attempt by man to compare and create God in his earthly image.
To whom will you make me like, and make me equal, and compare me, so that we may be like? They take gold in abundance out of the bag, and weigh silver in the scales, and hire a goldsmith, and he makes a god of him: they fall, yes, they worship. [their handmade god] over the shoulder, they carry him, and put him in his place, and he stands up; from the place of it shall not be removed; yes, one will cry out to him, but he will not be able to answer, nor save him from his distress.” (Isaiah 46:5-7)
“Confounded be all who serve graven images, They who boast of idols: Worship him, all you gods” (Psalm 97:7).
“The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see. They have ears, but cannot hear, nor is there breath in their mouths. Those who they make them are like them, so is everyone who trusts in them” (Psalm 135:15-18).
“For You, Lord, are high above all the earth; You are exalted far above all gods” (Psalm 97:9).
“Give thanks to the God of gods, for his mercy endures forever” (Psalm 136:2).
“For all the gods of the nations are idols; but the Lord made the heavens. Honor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty in the sanctuary of him” (Psalm 96:6).
Oprah recalled a quote from Tolle’s book: “Anytime you feel superior or inferior to someone, it’s always your ego.”
Knowing man’s perpetual tendency to make comparisons, Jesus wisely said, “How will the kingdom of God appear to us? Or with what comparison shall we compare it?…Let us pass over to the other side.” (Mark 4:30,35)