Don't Blame Me
Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” Genesis 3:13
“It isn’t like I lied, I just exaggerated a little on the claim form. After all, everyone knows the insurance companies collect millions in excess premiums!”
“If these kids weren’t so difficult to deal with I wouldn’t lose my temper and yell so much!”
“Sure I have some bad habits, but doesn’t everyone? Besides, I know a lot of people who are way worse than I am!”
Do any of these excuses sound familiar? When we fail to control ourselves, when we do or say things we know we shouldn’t, or when we behave in ways that make us ashamed, most of us are quick to assign blame anywhere but on our own shoulders. In this way we are very much Eve’s daughters.
As soon as we can find an excuse for our sin, we no longer feel so guilty. After all, if someone or something else is at fault, I can still feel pretty good about myself. And the need to feel better about myself as a mother can be overwhelming. There are so many expectations, and there is often so little time. We’re overworked, and under-rested, bombarded with constant needs and expectations.
The problem with blaming is that it not only justifies bad behavior, it also perpetuates it. How can I hope to change if I don’t even acknowledge I need to change? Looking at Eve, we recognize that her statement was basically true—the serpent did deceive her and she did eat. What she implies, however, is that the serpent’s deception was the cause of her disobedience. In fact, the cause of her disobedience was her decision to trust the serpent’s version of the truth instead of God’s and then to give in to the temptation to ignore God’s instruction. God has given each of us a free will to make the same kinds of choices today.
God instructs me to conduct business with honesty, to speak truth in love, to take good care of my body and mind. Because I am His child, I can follow His instructions or not. He has given me that choice. If I am to be the woman God intends, however, I need to stop blaming circumstances or other people when I fall short of God’s commands and then suffer the inevitable consequences of my poor choices. Taking responsibility for my own wrong choices is an important step on the way to maturity as a believer. And as the Holy Spirit works faith in me, I am able to confess my failures, knowing that Jesus promises to cleanse me and make me right with God again. He will never reject me. His unfailing love always helps and restores me. I am his beloved daughter.
He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy. Proverbs 28:13
Dear heavenly Father, help me to act and speak in accordance with Your will. Give me the courage to accept the responsibility for my own actions and to seek Your forgiveness for Jesus’ sake so I may mature as Your child and be a blessing to my family and friends. Amen.