Who is to Blame?

1 Corinthians 3:8(NASB) . . . each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

God has called us to live according to His Word and imitate Him. Our only task is to be obedient. Through our obedience we see many fruits, honoring worship, effective witness, deepening discipleship, healthy families, and fulfilled lives are just a few. However, we usually do not see these fruits in the amounts or ways that God intends.

We fail in obedience and are quick to give valid reasons. Our debt prevents us from tithing. It would be impossible to tithe, feed the family, keep a roof over our head, and get new tires on the car. Working two jobs cuts into our family time. So to increase our time with family we cut out Bible study, prayer time, and much of our involvement with church. Our spiritual gifts sit unused. We know that the preacher often encourages us to live according to the principles of the Bible - but who has time to figure that out. Ultimately, obedience is not something that we have time for.

Have you ever stopped to think of all the life shaping and blessings we miss out on by not being obedient? No matter what or whom we blame, we are the only person whom God holds responsible for being obedient to Him. He is going to hold us personally responsible.

Our reaction to God, much of the time, is to transfer the blame in an attempt to shift the responsibility. Blaming is not a new way to seek to avoid our obligation. The tactic has been around since the beginning.

Take a quick look at these.

• Adam blamed God and was cursed by sin and banned from the garden (Gen. 3:12-13).

• Eve blamed the serpent and received the same fate (Gen. 3:13).

• Sarai blamed Abraham for the plan to conceive Ishmael and divided a people (Gen. 16:2,5).

• Esau blamed Jacob for giving up his birthright and lost his leadership and inheritance (Gen 27:36).

• Aaron blamed the people for his golden calf and 3000 men died and a nation was punished (Ex. 32:22-24).

• Saul blamed the people for his disobedience and lost his kingdom (1 Sam. 15:20-21).

• Pilate blamed the people for his poor decision and Jesus was crucified (Matt. 27:24).

Each of these people had a personal duty to be obedient to the way God had set out before them. Their failures affected them scores around them, and generations to follow.

When we act irresponsibly, we are hurting ourselves and impacting the lives of others. Why not be the person who stops the cycle and reaps the rewards? God has and always will bless obedience.

Prayer: Lord, I no longer want to blame others or my circumstances. I want to ask forgiveness for my sin of irresponsibility and become a person of obedience.