Blameshifting and believing we are merely the victims of chance, circumstances, biology, or the actions of others can lead to hopelessness and despair. It hurts those who do the blaming more than those who are blamed. How can we respond in ways that are pleasing to God and that lead to peace, joy, blessings, and genuine life change, instead?
Also read about Daniel’s incredible prophecies, the challenges of praising God in the midst of life in a fallen world, and see another example of how the Old Testament and the New fit together in one story … God’s story.
Today’s Readings:
Daniel 7 & 8
Psalm 137.1-6
Proverbs 29.14
2 Peter 3.1-18
How Blameshifting Hurts You
Proverbs 29.14:
Provision Not Entitlement
If a king faithfully judges the poor, his throne will be established forever.
Faithful leaders are those who judge fairly. They don’t allow the poor to be taken advantage of because of their poverty, but neither do they make special allowances for them because of it.
Notice I said allowances. The Bible clearly talks about providing for the genuinely poor. In Old Testament times, farmers were to leave behind some of their produce so the poor could gather it. If you read the book of Ruth you see a beautiful picture of this. And other passages in Proverbs and elsewhere clearly say that we should have compassion for the poor (Prov.14.21, 31, 19.17, 21.13).
I would love to expand on that idea of the “genuinely poor,” but that will have to be the subject of another post. Suffice it to say that we have allowed an entitlement attitude to take root in our nation that has hurt people more than it has helped them.
Blameshifting & Finger Pointing
But the other issue is that we have too often allowed poverty, a lack of education, or some other kind of hardship to be an excuse for sinful behavior.
Consequently, blameshifting and finger-pointing are at an all-time high. No one wants to take responsibility for his or her own actions.
Girls aren’t responsible for sexual misbehavior because their fathers “weren’t there for them.” I’m not saying growing up without a father doesn’t influence behavior, but it isn’t determinative. A bad or absent father may be a stumbling block and make it easier for his daughter to sin in some way, but she can still choose to do what’s right and is responsible for her choices.
Even a Child is Known by His Deeds
Young people aren’t to blame for getting involved with gangs because they “just want to belong.” Single moms and poverty are to blame instead. Again it’s true that the breakdown of the family has contributed greatly to the condition of our culture, but as individuals, we are responsible for making wise and right choices.
Even a child is known by his deeds, whether what he does is pure and right (Prov. 20.11).
Thieves are not to blame for their actions. Poverty and a lack of education are to blame.
Drunkards are not responsible for bad behavior and fatalities. They have a disease.
Blaming others and circumstances for crimes has become so prevalent that we have a catch-all term for it, a “Twinkie Defense,” based on the testimony in a murder trial. The lawyer claimed his client was not responsible for murdering two people because of his depression evidenced by his eating junk food.
Hopelessness, Anger & More Poverty
The Bible says we are all accountable for our actions (Ezek. 18.20; 1 Cor. 10.13). It may seem harsh at first to call sin what it is. But, for example, when we call alcoholism what the bible calls it, the sin of drunkenness, there’s hope because sin can be repented of, forgiven, and real change can take place.
9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Cor. 6.9-11).
Such were some of you … past tense. Instead, drunkards are told, “You’re an alcoholic, you’ll always be an alcoholic. And just so you’ll remember, we want you to stand up every week and say ‘My name is _____ and I’m an alcoholic.'”
Real change can take place as a sinner (saved by grace) learns to rely on the power and grace of God, puts off the actions of the old man, and puts on new righteous actions (Eph. 4.22-24).
And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit (Eph. 2.18).
That’s not to say a former drunkard should justify drinking, even moderately. We need to be wise and stay away from things that have the power to enslave us again.
All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any (1 Cor. 6.12).
So Your Joy May Be Full
Believing we are merely victims of chance, circumstances, biology, or the actions of others leads to hopelessness, despair, and behavior that is self-destructive, harmful to others, and offensive to God … in other words, SIN.
And ironically, doing what at first seems harsh, putting the blame where it belongs, can lead to real change … spiritually, emotionally, and circumstantially in people’s lives.
Even if our particular circumstances never change, we can have God’s peace (Phil. 4.7). We can also experience the joy and blessings that come from walking in obedience.
10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
11 These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full (Jn. 15.10-11).
So, whether it’s rebellious children or teens, those caught up in life-dominating sins like drunkenness, any form of sexual immorality, drug abuse, anger and bitterness, fear and worry, or any other sinful pattern, we must speak the truth in love and gently call those involved to repent of their sin, believe the gospel, and turn to God seeking His help to grow and change.
It doesn’t mean it will be easy or instantaneous. Those involved will need encouragement, help, and accountability along the way. They will need discipleship, involvement in a good biblical church, and prayer. But God through His Word and His people is more than enough.
Today’s Other Readings:
Daniel 7 & 8:
God’s Control of World Events
Just like Revelation in the New Testament, the book of Daniel boldly demonstrates not just God’s complete foreknowledge but complete control of world events. In chapter 7, God gave Daniel a dream with the same prophetic meaning as Nebuchadnezzar’s dream about a statue (Dan. 2.31-35). The four beasts in his dream represent the same four empires.
Daniel 7.9-14 talks about the second coming of Christ, “I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven” (v. 13).
In chapter 8, the ram with the two horns was the second empire represented by the chest and arms of silver on Nebuchadnezzar’s statue—the Medo-Persian Empire. The ram was overcome by a goat with a large horn, which represented Alexander the Great and Greece. The horn that was broken off foretold the early death of Alexander the Great. The four horns that took its place were Alexander’s four captains who would assume power. The vision also foretold of great persecution that was to come on His people and the church of God.
But it doesn’t stop there as we’ll see over the next couple of days.
Psalm 137.1-6:
Worshiping God in a Foreign Land
How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a foreign land (v. 4)?
The people of God found it very hard to worship and praise Him while they were aliens in a foreign land. We, too, are aliens and strangers in this world and our worship and praise are tempered by the struggles of living in a sin-cursed world. But, one day when we stand before Him and all the troubles and trials of this life are gone, we will worship Him without hindrance forever!
2 Peter 3.1-18:
Looking Forward to a New Heaven & a New Earth
The New Testament writers, including Peter, wrote of the same future events that Daniel foresaw.
Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells (v. 13).
Closing Thoughts:
Do you believe God is in control of the world in which we live? Do you believe He is in control of the events of your life? Have you been tempted to blame others rather than take responsibility for your own actions? How has God helped you in that area?
Coming Up:
In the next few days, we’ll talk about false teachers, friendship, judgment, the Rapture, the Tribulation, parenting, and Christian fatalism.
I hope you’ll join us.
Get Ready for the Coming Year with a Plan for Your Bible Reading
The holidays are just around the corner and the new year will be on us before we know it. What will you do to make Bible reading an ongoing habit in the coming year? I want to encourage you to set a goal to read through the Bible again or for the first time. If you join me here, I’ll take you through a plan that covers both the Old and New Testaments in about 15 minutes a day. Sign up here for my daily email. It can serve as a gentle reminder to stay on track and I believe you’ll benefit from the additional background and application comments that I share.
Start today so you can begin the habit and it will be a regular part of your day come January.
You can also follow me on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest. Just click on the social media icons. But nothing replaces having the daily devotion pop up in your inbox each day. It, usually (once in a while life gets in the way), goes out at 6 a.m. MST.
Blessings as you grow in Christ,
Donna ♥
Note about this post:
I began blogging through the Bible in 2012 and have done so every year since then. These posts are the product of many edits and additions throughout those years. Some days I make major changes, other days fewer.
A while ago, I read Jen Wilkin’s book None Like Him about the attributes of God. One is His incomprehensibility. In it, she says, “God is incomprehensible. This does not mean that he is unknowable, but that he is unable to be fully known.”
I have found that to be true each year as I’ve gone back through the Bible. Sometimes I find myself feeling as if a passage just appeared there for the first time. I’m reminded that no matter how many times we read through the Bible, we have only scratched the surface. I hope you feel the same.
Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand?” (Job 26.14)
1 Comment
Leave your reply.