The Six "I" Fool

Written By: Tom Moore

In showing that we are to "take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth" (Lk. 12:15), our Lord proclaimed the parable in Luke 12:16-21. Take time now to read this parable. You will also notice as you look deeply into this parable all of the personal pronouns that are found in the statements of this certain rich man. This rich man used the pronoun "my" five times and the pronoun "I" six times which to me indicates an attitude of total self-sufficiency.

The rich man in this parable gave all the credit to himself for what he had attained. This rich man had left God out of the picture. He thought that he was totally self-sufficient. Have you ever seen or known a six "I" fool? Let me describe him to you. Notice the following attitudes of the six "I" fool.

Attitude #1 ... "I" AM GOD'S GIFT TO THE WORLD. I am sure we have all known people like this. I heard a young man once say, "If I ever find a woman who loves me as much as I love myself, I'll think I'll marry her." I don't know what became of this young man, but I would guess he is still single! This is the kind of person that throws his shoulder out of socket, patting himself on the back. Solomon declared, "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall" (Prov. 16:18).

Attitude #2 ... "I"AM ALWAYS RIGHT. This is one who will never admit it when he is wrong. He allows pride to stand in the way. None of us are perfect (Rom. 3:23), and therefore, we will make mistakes. But not the six "I" fool, or so he thinks! "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall" (1 Cor. 10:12).

Attitude #3 ... "I" NEED NO HELP. This describes more people than I care to realize. This is one who would sooner die than ask for help. Why do we not rely on one another more? Is it because our "I"s get in the way? We are told to comfort one another (2 Cor. 1:4; 1 Thess. 4:18), to provoke one another unto love and good works (Heb. 10:24), to exhort one another (2 Tim. 4:2), and pray one for another (Jam. 5:16). We need each others help!

Attitude #4 ... "I" DID IT ALL MYSELF. Has this multi-"I" monster forgotten the words of our Lord? Jesus declared, "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing" (Jn. 15:5). We can truly do nothing of lasting importance without Christ. Remember, all belongs to God and we are but stewards of those things.

Attitude #5 ... "I" THINK. What I think, or what you think is not that important. What is important is what the Lord thinks. What you and I think do not amount to a hill of beans in worth unless they are based on God's thoughts. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isa. 55:8-9).

This poor, old six "I" fool has so many "I"s he can hardly see. He is unable to see anyone but himself. We need to take the "I am third" attitude, which is, "God is first, everyone else is second, and I an third!" May we all refuse to be a six "I" fool.