Archived Verse Of the Week

So when was the last time you evaded taking responsibility? 

 

It's so easy to place blame for our issues on someone or something else. From the beginning, this has been humanity's scapegoat.

When God questioned Adam and Eve about their transgression, they pointed to someone else. God asked Adam, "Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat? Adam replied, "The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate." Not only was Adam blaming Eve, but he was also blaming God, who had given her to him. 'What have you done,' God inquired of Eve. She said, 'The serpent deceived me' (Genesis 3:11-13). As the first line of defence, it appears human nature to blame others.

 

How often do we place blame for our mistakes on other people, the environment, or our circumstances? We have such a hard time admitting, "I'm accountable." As a result, we place blame on everything and everyone but ourselves. The Lord, on the other hand, wants us to take responsibility. Even if others might join us in our sin, whether in gossip, smearing, or inappropriate sexual relationships, we alone are responsible for the repercussions of our actions. We can't say, "well, they tempted me," or "they are just as much to fault."

 

We're the ones who committed the sin, and we must deal with it accordingly. We can't just throw money or praiseworthy deeds at it and expect it to compensate or forgive us. Instead, we must confess our sins to God and seek forgiveness. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9) Only in the humility of confession, not only in apologizing, does forgiveness come. We must admit and repent of our sins and quit blaming it on someone or something else.