The “I” Factor

Jesus told the parable of a rich man whose fields produced an exceptionally abundant crop. The man sketched out a plan to store this extraordinary harvest and thought he was set for years to come. His words uncovered his covetousness and selfishness, and revealed his inwardly focused, self-centered approach to life. No thought of sharing with others less fortunate, no acknowledgment of the God who granted him all this abundance. The harvest was all about him and him alone.

The man was stingy in the worst of all ways; not simply in sharing his abundance but in sharing credit for this blessing. He chose to rob God of thanksgiving, and overlooked the contributions of others. Certainly, this rich man did not plant all the seeds alone, till and fertilize the ground by himself, cause rain to fall upon his crops, nor gather the vast harvest on his own. His plans for himself overshadowed what others did to contribute to his success.

The Parable of the Rich Fool highlights the dangers of what we shall call, the “I” factor. In this short passage, the man spoke of and to himself 12 times. “I” can be the most dangerous word in the human vocabulary. It exalts ourselves: our accomplishments, connections, possessions and reputation. It diminishes what others have done to aid, encourage, and bless us. My pastor recently said, “Even if you think you pulled yourself up by your own bootstraps, remember, the boots came from God!” The person who relishes their own accomplishments without acknowledging the role God and others played in their success is a person short on memory and long on pride.

Today, one of the prevailing ways we see or fall guilty of the “I” factor is in our conversations with family, colleagues and strangers. How often do we make our  conversations with others about us; focused solely on our accomplishments, our credentials or even our problems? Do our conversations leave others encouraged about themselves or overshadowed by our perceived personal greatness? Are we intentional about giving others an opportunity to shine? Above all, do we ensure any success we enjoy is attributed to God, not ourselves?

In the end, God tells the rich fool death would take him that very night, leaving his abundance to someone else. His legacy was one of covetousness, selfishness and self-promotion. Let us learn from Jesus’ parable and not make our legacies about being recognized, but recognizing others. That is a legacy worth remembering.