The Joy of Me, Myself, and I

I always find it interesting when a secular study comes up with findings that are aligned with biblical truth.  The most recent one I have found was in a sidebar in the February 25, 2012 World Magazine called, “Me, Myself, and I”.  The research was done by a University of Texas Professor named James Pennebaker and was published in the Harvard Business Review. 

 

Professor Pennebaker used a computer program that counts and categorizes words into “function words”, which the article describes as pronouns, articles, and conjunctions, and “content words” which it says are nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs that convey meaning.  He applied this computer program to over 400,000 texts “including college essays, text messages, transcripts from press conferences, and chat room conversations.” 

 

They expected that they would find “dark and negative content” in the poetry of writers who had committed suicide – but they didn’t.  What they did discover was the there were significant differences in the frequency of pronouns like, “I”.   

Quoting the article, quoting Professor Pennebaker, “Pronouns tell us where people focus their attention.  If someone uses the pronoun “I”, it’s a sign of self-focus.  Say someone asks, ‘How’s the weather outside?’  You could answer, ‘It’s hot” or ‘I think it’s hot.’  The ‘I think’ may seem insignificant, but it’s quite meaningful.  It shows you’re more focused on yourself.  Depressed people use the word ‘I’ much more often than emotionally stable people.”  That leads me to think that being self-focused is not good for people.  

The Bible is clear that we are not to be self-focused.  Many verses point us away from self-interest to the interest of others.  The one I always think of is Paul’s instruction to the Philippians in chapter 2:3, “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.  Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”  He makes it pretty clear who is to come first.  

There are also many instructions that Jesus gave us that indicate we are to focus on others.  Here are just two:        

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”  Matthew 5:16

“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” Matthew 6:14.   

I don’t know where the J.O.Y acronym came from but it suggests that those want joy must put Jesus first, others second, and yourself last.   

For a couple of days now I have been focused on me, myself, and I.  I like to think it doesn’t happen that often but when it does I wallow in it!  I don’t know if I would say I was depressed but I have definitely been unhappy and hard to be around.  Today the Lord is returning my J.O.Y. focus.  He started first thing this morning on Facebook as I was rolling through the posts and a friend had posted, “…remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’  Acts 20:35b” Then, at lunch time I sat down with World Magazine and “Me, Myself, and I” was the second article I read.  I heard loud and clear that my own thoughts were definitely “me focused”.   

‎In case I was wondering if this had been from God, I went onto Facebook to make sure I was quoting the right verse and the first post I read was,  “People who accept discipline are on the pathway to life, but those who ignore correction will go astray.”  Proverbs 10:17 It was front and center on my home page.  I needed a new attitude and the Lord has me smiling at how much He cares about how I feel.  The circumstances are the same but Jesus has gone back to first place.   

Intentionally or not, Professor Pennebaker has proven a Biblical truth.  When we take our eyes off of Christ and start thinking or talking about Me, myself, and I we are headed into dangerous territory.  When “I” become “my” focus “I” need to recognize that Jesus has an abundant life for each one of His children.  When “I” place “myself” over Him and others – “I” will not see it.  

When we consider others important enough to point to Him, then we will know the joy of the Lord and the “J.O.Y. of the LORD is our strength.”