God gave man dominion over the creation in the beginning (see Genesis 1:26-28). This leads me to believe that God designed man with a good inclination to assume dominion over himself and his environment constructively and deliberately.

Then came the fall, after which the fleshly part of man’s being caused man to focus on his own will, rather than God’s. We call it “ego”.

So now from a very young age our egos incline us to want our own way. We continually resist being governed by others, including God.

Our ego lies. It tells us that our way is the best way. Life, however, will teach us that our way is not the best way. As God said to Cain, 

“Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.”
- Genesis 4:6-7

A dominant ego will prevent you from doing well, even if you can see that its outcome is better. A weak ego is just as bad, however, because it will accept anything that is put before it as better, resulting in constant aimless confusion.

The unreliable nature of our egos forces us to the conclusion that we can’t be our own guides in life. There is just too much we don’t know or don’t understand, and we are prone to subjective, selfish, dumb conclusions.

Perhaps this is why Jesus refers to us a sheep. While a sheep has a will of his own, he still needs a shepherd to lead him. A good shepherd will lead his sheep where he will find food, water, safety and peace. No sheep is smart enough to find those things on his own, regardless of the power or stubbornness of his ego. He just doesn’t know how.

I don’t know how either, but I have a shepherd who guides me every day. He’s already been everywhere he plans for me to go and everywhere he takes me is someplace where something he prepared is waiting for me. 

No ego can do better than that.