The other morning I couldn’t find my wallet. I looked for it in the usual places—the bedroom dresser, the kitchen counter, my pants pocket—but my search came up empty.
My immediate response? I wanted to blame someone else. My wife must have put it somewhere. If not her, then it must have been one of my kids . . . or maybe even the dog.
Yikes! What’s up with that? I know I was stressed and running late for work that morning. But why am I so quick to blame others? (I later found the wallet where I had left it—under the front seat of my car.)
Thinking about this tendency of mine reminds me of Adam. When God asked him to explain what happened that fateful day in Eden, he was quick to point the finger at everyone but himself. The first words out of his mouth were, “It was the woman You gave me” (Genesis 3:12). In other words, “Yes, I took a bite from the forbidden fruit, but it’s mostly Your fault. You’re the one who gave me Eve, and it was her idea.”
Adam couldn’t have been more wrong. It wasn’t Eve’s idea to rebel. Actually, it was the serpent’s—a.k.a. Satan (Genesis 3:1-5). And it certainly wasn’t God’s fault. Adam freely chose to eat the forbidden fruit.
How about you? Are you quick to blame others? I obviously have my moments. It’s one of those nasty tendencies we’ve all picked up from the first human being.
Blaming others for our oversights or mistakes may seem like the safe and reasonable way to go, but it is not. It’s a harmful trap. When we fail to take responsibility for our own choices, we become victims—imprisoned by the lie that our problems are everyone else’s fault.
More:
There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death (Proverbs 14:12).
Next:
In what situations do you see yourself wrongfully blaming others? How should you take more responsibility?
peg on March 23, 2009 at 2:29 pm
I know that I am guilty of sin. I know that God has forgiven me and died for me to have eternal life. I have to take the blame for my mistakes, or else, how can I be forgiven for them. And learn from them. Admitting my faults and repenting is not always easy, but I know that I have to. Then I get peace. Also, by understanding when someone else makes mistakes helps everyone get along.
gingerbreadsister55 on March 23, 2009 at 8:06 pm
I have been studying 1 & 2 Timothy, how fitting this devotional is as I and my other half are in discussion about Paul’s comment in 1 Timothy 1:14 that the women is the blame. I have always asked the question why didn’t Adam say No. This discussion is a good continuation and confirmation for us. We look to each other for strength and support. And strive to listen to God’s word in our relationship with each other and family. We have committed to not blame the other for our missteps, mistakes and misunderstandings and when we have misspoken or falsely accused, we have prayerfully asked God for forgiveness and then asked for each others’ forgiveness. It has turned our disagreements into opportunities to discuss and deepen our walk together with God.
nschumacher on March 24, 2009 at 6:51 am
It is not easy to admit fault. You definitely don’t want to faulter in someone else’s eyes, especially your spouse. Additionally, by shifting blame to someone else, you are justifying your actions. For example, if you fail during an argument and say things you shouldn’t have, it is our habit to blame the other person by saying they caused me to say it.
ufooulotu on March 24, 2009 at 3:19 pm
If we take responsibility of issues and stop blaming others, the world will become a much better place. Most wars will end, and it will contribute a lot in eradicating poverty and other problems. We have to be responsible just as God has always been. When you point a finger at someone, your 4 other fingers are pointed at you. Jesus thank you for teaching us this lesson.