There is a Greek proverb which goes: “Society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they will never sit in.” The essence of this saying concerns looking beyond one's own time. It commends the value of working towards a goal you might not see the completion of, but which is an investment in the future.
Many of us, whether in a professional or personal capacity, prefer to pick projects we know we can complete. We’d rather commit to something we are guaranteed to benefit from, and to have our contributions acknowledged in our own lifetime. There is a satisfaction in seeing one’s work finished, not to mention, reaping the rewards of said work.
There also tends to be far more praise given to those who can easily demonstrate the fruits of their labour. We reward those who can clearly point to what they’ve achieved with promotions, validation, authority, money, autonomy. We assign such people titles and leadership positions, regarding them as accomplished. And so, naturally, most people choose the short-term over playing the long game.
This sort of prioritising can commonly be seen among those in political or administrative office. A politician is voted into a role for a limited period of time, and they know there will be pressure on them to demonstrate what they have achieved during their tenure. The pressure to implement observable change, coupled with their desire to
leave behind a tangible personal legacy, makes picking easy-win causes likely. Meaning, that while in a position of influence, the politician will mainly focus on devoting themself to projects that will earn them political points. And any long-term issues are easier to hand off to the next guy. Thus, resulting in poor hand-offs, lack of cohesive continuity, and the diminished likelihood of truly needed systemic changes implemented (due to them taking more than an elected term to come to full fruition).
Like those in government, a short term thinking is all too common among church administrators as well. They too are in office for a limited period of time. Some elected to church offices view their service in a position as being merely a stepping stone to a higher, more "prestigious" position. Personal ambition, coveted titles, and the drive to climb the ladder can cause us all to invest more in appearing as though we’re leading, at the cost of actually leading. Additionally, those who are in need of advocacy, representation, and support are often oppressed by systemic issues. Systemic issues take longer time and effort to address and combat. Thus, these issues are rarely addressed thoroughly, responsibly, or improved on by the very people who are uniquely empowered to assert the necessary influence. A significant problem with only sticking to easy-win, short-term projects is that one may fail to invest in the future. Why? Because some things take more than a person’s lifetime to come to be realised. When we only think in terms of ‘our time’, we become short-sighted, self-centred, and narrow-minded – we lose vision. When this lack of vision is practised by leaders, it feeds into a cooperate culture which can make an organisation stale and bogged down by politics.
Obsessing over personal legacy stands in the way of us effectively passing the torch to those who come after us. After all, why would we set up things so as to help the next guy succeed if we're more concerned about looking good ourselves? Focusing on making a name for ourself is done at the cost of effectual stewardship. Because being a good leader entails having the courage to see beyond one’s own time in office.
A way to combat one's inner "pull" towards personal legacy-hunting is by shifting the focus from personal power to the empowering of others. We can practically do this by giving away power, delegating, training others, mentoring (and making sure we're good mentors), supporting and investing in other’s journeys and growth, and mindfully beginning projects we know we won’t reap the rewards of. Paul wrote about the importance of having a greater vision, stretching beyond one's "personal" ministry. He touches on this when describing his own work and that of his colleagues:
"I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither
the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building." (1 Corinthians 3:6-9)
Jesus echoed similar thoughts to his disciples in John 4:37-38. Paul's statement to the Corinthians can be a grounding tool for us when ego begins calling the shots. A reminder that, firstly, good work is helped by many hands. Secondly, truly good things only grow and come to life because a living God makes those things grow. Although that may sting some people's pride, it can also offer surprising relief and liberation from the constraints and fragility attached to personal legacy and image. There is a freedom in knowing that, not only is it not all about you - it's not all on you. And we can also be assured that even if we don't receive all the recognition we'd hoped for, our efforts don't go unnoticed by the one who's opinion matters the most. A faith community and society grows stronger when people are willing to forgo personal legacy-hunting for planting worthwhile seeds. We can find great freedom and meaning if we dare to see beyond our limited time, and invest in a longer game.
Comments