“Of course I’m a responsible person!”
Perhaps you have heard the comedic exchange:
“Are you a responsible person?”
“Yes, I am. My wife tells me I’m responsible for everything that happens.”
I’m sure it isn’t quite that bad, but consider this: Do be a responsible person. Now, before you get all ballistic and huffy think this through with me.
We live in a culture today of what I will call “blame-shifters.” We would rather blame than take responsibility. In fact, Proverbs 24:12-13 is surprisingly contemporary, especially for those who want to say the Bible is an antiquated and outdated book. “Don’t excuse yourself by saying, ‘Look, we didn’t know.’ For God understands all hearts, and he sees you. He who guards your soul and knows you know.” (NLT) (Emphasis mine)
Shifting blame is nothing new. It is as old as…well…the Garden. After Adam and Eve ate the fruit and knew things had changed, they hid from God who had come for their daily walk. When Adam replied, “I heard you walking in the Garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.”
God: “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I told you not to eat”
(WAIT FOR IT)
A: “It was the woman you gave me.”
G: (to Eve) “What have you done? Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?”
(WAIT FOR IT)
E: “The serpent deceived me.”
Not a sliver of taking responsibility, bu they both were good at shifting blame. “The woman.” “The serpent.”
And we haven’t changed or stopped. We still shift blame. “It wasn’t my fault. He or she did it.” Don’t you think it is time to start acting like men and women and assume responsibility for our actions? Growth can happen when we accept responsibility instead of pointing our finger at someone and say, “It’s his or her fault.” Well…what do you say?
I have found that forgiveness comes quicker when one admits their wrongdoing. Rough patches can be mended and relationships can move past hurts when blame is accepted instead of transferred. If only we were willing to admit and accept responsibility more often and sooner.
Well said Pam! Dealing with things instead of burying them or passing the blame makes for a healthy relationship and a healthy church body.
It started in the garden and definitely continues through to this day and I expect blame shifting will not cease any time soon. I know I have been guilty at times of trying to redirect. Though the frequency has significantly lessened as I have matured physically and spiritually. I pray that God reveals to me when I gi down that path in the future.
You are correct Ryan. It did start in the garden and will continue until Jesus returns. I really like your prayer that God will let you know.
May we learn to take responsibility for our actions and inactions. Easier said than done, I know, and I admit I’ve tried to shift blame over my lifetime, but it isn’t at all the way to go. The blame game produces no good fruit.
Blessings, Bill!
Your last sentence is the game changer Martha. The blame game does not produce good fruit.
That is a hard truth at the end of the week, but so true Bill. May the grace that God grants us, may that same grace flow through us to forgive others. When we have wronged others, may we humble ourselves to ask them for forgiveness. Father help us not to be blame shifters, but to take on the responsibility of a servants heart, and know when to grant grace and when to ask for grace.
Good thoughts Gail. I too pray that God will help me take responsibility where I need to and grant grace where it is needed also
This is so true. It’s way too easy to pass the buck … and then we wonder why our kids or grandkids head down the same path.
We modeled it for them. Let’s own our stuff. It’s not easy but boy that’s the way to go.
I think you state one of the hardest realities Linda. We have shown our kids how to do just what we have done.