The Narcissist
Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Have you ever had to be around a person who always wants to be seen as wonderful and absolutely perfect and the most all-knowing person, knowing everything already before everyone else, the biggest, the best, etc.? And then when they feel slighted in any way, they keep an inner score of how many times you’ve upset them, and they carry imaginary ills you have caused in their life, then they conveniently retaliate. Their behavior becomes destructive when things don’t go according to their personal imaginings and all hell can break lose. It’s very difficult to have consistent trust with someone who always has to make everything “about them” in some way. Life can become very difficult when you do not know what kind of drama you will get on any given day with them. They tend to get overly dramatic, demanding others complete attention, and they somehow keep anything good from happening. Eventually people just get sick and tired of this behavior and shut down on working with or having to be with this narcissist. It is hard to be around and even sometimes have to work with someone who is like this and on top of it, the person can be prone to anger, either in a personal or work relationship. Outbursts, rage, overly emotional or even explosive. Wow, not fun! Deliverance and inner healing are what is needed from the Lord. Proverbs 22:24 tells us, “Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered.” But here’s the real clincher—am I like any of these behaviors that have been described? What am I like; what is my personality like? Do others enjoy being around me? Am I an encouragement or a discouragement? A help or a hindrance? A support or uncaring? Do I talk about others in gossip? Am I divisive? Am I a know-it-all or a good listener? Proverbs 17;9 tells us that a gossip “separates close friends.” Proverbs 11:3 says, “A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.” Many relationships personal and professional have been ruined by those who are either dividers or cannot keep a confidence to save their life. Relationships are destroyed as well as home and working environments. If you recognize any of these behaviors as red flags to you in your life, ask the Lord to help you specifically, and ask Him for an understanding heart, a listening ear, a pure conscience and a growing, improving character. Let’s keep growing and moving forward in our behavior.
What about you? Are you growing and going forward in the Lord, daily applying His Word to your heart? What are some areas you could do some improvement in? Talk to the Lord about your character. Press into His Word for guidance and everyday happenings. He is faithful to help bring maturity in Him to greater places of blessing and growth. Call out to Him today!
