The Field Of Selfishness

The Field of Selfishness

If we aren’t careful, our successes can tempt us to become filled with pride and forsake those who helped get us to that very place. Indianapolis Colts tight end Ben Utecht learned this lesson at the pinnacle of his career, Super Bowl XLI. When it was time to take the field, Utecht’s father was at the top of the tunnel, crying out with all of his might for his son to hear him. Utecht turned, saw his father, went up to him, and said, “Dad, not now.” As Utecht began to run on the field, he was convicted that he was forsaking the one who had helped get him to this point in his career. He says, “The playing field had become my field of selfishness.”^a

Ephesians 6:1-3 states, “Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. ‘Honor your father and mother.’ This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, ‘things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.’”

Sometimes this honor is given to a parent we may have never met. A friend of mine, Antonio Armstrong, who neither knew his father nor shared his last name, won all Southwest Conference honors as a linebacker for Texas A&M’s Wrecking Crew with the name Antonio Shorter. After winning these honors and making a name for himself, Antonio chose to honor his father by taking his dad’s last name. Antonio’s dad passed away before he ever met him, but Antonio told me that he feels God would have him honor his dad by carrying his last name, because he is the man he is today thanks to his mom and dad.

Remember, no matter your success, you didn’t get there alone. Take the time to appreciate those who helped get you where you are today.

Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. “Honor your father and mother.”

Ephesians 6:1-2