Answer
An egomaniac is a person who is obsessively self-centered. Calling someone an egomaniac is considered an insult, since no human being has the right to be self-centered. Typically, egomaniacs are seen as having some kind of deficiency or pathology that causes them to see life only from their perspective. This cannot be said of God, because He has no deficiencies or pathologies.
Some claim Jesus was an egomaniac based on passages such as Matthew 10:37–39: “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.” Coming from a mortal with a sinful nature, this statement would indeed indicate an ego out of control. But coming from the perfect Son of Man, God Incarnate, it is perfectly appropriate.
Others point to the fact that God demands worship or that He shows jealousy as evidence of His egomania. However, as Creator of the heavens and earth (Genesis 1:1), He owns it all. Since God is all-powerful, perfect, and worthy of all praise, there is nothing wrong in His saying we should focus our lives on worshiping Him, serving Him, and giving up everything to follow Him. As God, He is perfectly justified in demanding worship. The Great Commandment states, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment” (Matthew 22:37–38).
Even in His “holy self-centeredness,” God shows love and care for others. God loved the world so much that He “gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). God showed the greatest love possible by sending His own Son to live, die, and rise again to give us the opportunity for eternal life. Jesus lived a selfless life of humbly helping others.
Further, God is perfect and therefore lacks any deficiency (Matthew 5:48). His works are perfect (Deuteronomy 32:4; 2 Samuel 22:31), His knowledge is perfect (Job 36:4, 37:16), His words are perfect (Psalm 18:30), His laws are perfect (Psalm 19:7), His beauty is perfect (Psalm 50:2), His faithfulness is perfect (Isaiah 25:1), His will is perfect (Romans 12:2), and His love is perfect (1 John 4:18). There is no imperfection in Him or in any of His ways.
Yes, God does have an “ego”; that is, He has an awareness of self. But He is no egomaniac; He is perfect in and of Himself. He alone is worthy of all praise, and humans who would try to usurp His authority or steal His glory are the true egomaniacs.
