The Blame Game

Announcer: “Welcome to the new sports game show sweeping the nation in which two contestants compete together to see who can deny responsibility for their actions the most! Let’s meet our host, please welcome. . . Mr. Itz Yorfault. Our two contestants today are Adam Ididntdoit and Eve Itwasntme. And now let’s play. . . The Blame Game!”

OK, so there is no such game; but we see it all the time on sidelines, in locker rooms and on long trips home from games. Teammates banter and complain that everything is everyone else’s fault, not their own. Where did we learn such a thing? The trend goes back a long time.

In the beginning, God created everything, and then He created man and woman. But it wasn’t until a serpent slivered his way onto the scene that things changed and problems started. God gave Adam and Eve specific instructions about what not to eat, but Satan, the father of all lies, asked Eve if God really said that they could not eat from a certain tree. As history goes, Eve took a bite of fruit from the tree, and then Adam followed. Immediately they knew they were busted. First, shame came over them because of their sin, then they hid and clothed themselves. And then the game began.

God asked them where they were. They didn’t answer. Instead, they hid from God (as if they could). When God found them, He asked Adam what had happened. Adam immediately placed the blame on the woman, saying she had given him the fruit. Then Eve chimed in that it wasn’t her fault because the serpent had tricked her. And ever since then, people have been blaming each other for their own mistakes.

So, what is the lesson in this story?  First, the responsibility to take responsibility falls directly on you. When you go to a party, no one can make you take a drink, take those drugs or smoke that stuff. You make a conscience choice whether or not to do it. Second, when you make a mistake, you must face up to it, ask God to forgive you and ask others you may have hurt to forgive you, as well. These two simple steps will do much to prevent you from becoming a contestant on The Blame Game. 

We all make poor choices in our lives from time to time, but blaming your surroundings, your environment, your teammates, your coaches, your parents or the system will not make anything better. Step up, step out and do the right thing by take responsibility for your part. As tough as it is and will be, it is what God wants you to do!