Egotistical

Jesus told His disciples, "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me" (Matt 10:37). Really, Jesus? Isn't that a bit egotistical? "Egotistical" is defined as "excessively conceited." Jesus called Himself "the way, and the truth, and the life," and went on to say, "no one comes to the Father but through Me" (John 14:6). Is that not excessively conceited? In fact, according to Paul, we were granted "every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ" (Eph 1:3) "to the praise of the glory of His grace" (Eph 1:6, 12, 14). Seriously, how is that not egotistical?

The primary component of "egotistical" is in its "quantity." It requires "excessively." For instance, Magnus Carlsen is the #1 rated chess player in the world. If you spoke to Mr. Carlsen and he said, "I'm the #1 rated chess player in the world," it might sound egotistical but it's not. Why? Because it's actually true. For anyone else to say it would be egotistical, but if it is true, it is not excessive; it is true. If God says, "I am the LORD, and there is no other; Besides Me there is no God" (Isa 45:5-6), it may sound egotistical, but it isn't because it is true. In fact, if it is true and He denied it, that would be a lie. It isn't excessive conceit; it is plain truth.

A lot of people have trouble with the whole "God tells us to worship Him" thing. They think He must be egotistical, even egomaniacal. If it was not true, He would be. But He is indeed the highest being, so it is not excessive nor undue. If we are commanded to do all things to the glory of God (1 Cor 10:31), He must be doing the same -- to the glory of God. It isn't ego; it's right. Anything else would be wrong. Which is one of the reasons He is one of a kind -- the only God.