Blame

Love you all, praying for you.
 
I just love God’s Word.  Straight truth, often uncomfortable, always timely, always crucial.  Proverbs 19:3 – A man’s own folly ruins his life, yet his heart rages against the LORD.  Have you ever noticed that humans have an amazing ability, and natural tendency to blame other people, for what really is their fault… what their actions caused, or greatly contributed to?  Have you ever noticed that in you?  God said "First remove the log from your own eye, then you’ll be able to see clearly to remove the spec from someone else’s."  Humility is a key to obedience, it’s the beginning of wisdom, it’s a requirement of favor, it’s the hallmark of Christ.  If you are quick to blame, humility is not really your thing.  Some people even blame God.  A man’s own folly… foolishness, lack of awareness, devoid of wisdom, which begins with humility.  What is folly?  A two-sided coin.  Doing something God never told you to do or saying something God never said or told you to say.  That’s one side.  The other side of the folly coin is doing something God said not to do, or saying something God didn’t say, or said not to say.  In other words, folly is doing something God didn’t tell you, or doing something He told you not to, whether thoughts, words, or deeds.  See the PRISM Topics – Say, Shut Up, and Do Not Say...  Folly starts in the thought, and if it becomes word, it will become belief and action.  Have you ever noticed that we as humans always want to assign blame.  Usually as far away from ourselves as we can.  Sometimes blame is necessary – it’s a part of justice, an accountability, that if the offender is not called to, they and others will continue with impunity.  The wicked want to move on, but the righteous know that truth is required.  If the wicked aren’t punished, sin abounds.  But other times, the blame game is fruitless.  The devil is the accuser, always seeking to point out faults.  God said love covers over faults – a multitude of sins.  So how do you know the difference?  You need the Holy Spirit’s discernment.  There is a time for everything under the sun, a time to rend and a time to heal.  Covering over faults, doesn’t mean ignoring, or condoning sin.  It just means that we believe the best, seek and grant forgiveness quickly, turn from anything that displeases God, or mistreats others, and move on in the grace that God gives to prefer others above ourselves.  In this verse – this fool was the cause of his own predicament, yet blamed God, instead of repenting and facing his own intents and actions. It’s easy to see it in others, but far easier to miss it in yourself.  You can’t blame God for self-inflicted trouble.  He will hear you and forgive and save you.  And if you’re humble, you’ll ask Him for an accurate assessment, post mortem.  The younger brother finally came to his senses.  While you might never blame God completely, it is easy to harbor the thought – God could have prevented this.  As if it’s God responsibility to stop you from doing what you want to do, knowing He said not to, or not checking with Him first.  Humility takes responsibility, wisdom is circumspect – cautious before speaking and acting, and cautious in friendship.  Praying that your words will always be humble, that you won’t blame God, but Thank him.  That you'll ask Him first before doing something stupid.  Sometimes things outside your control bring great hardship.  It truly wasn't your fault, but don’t blame God, trust Him, even in the things you don’t understand.  God said in this world you will have trouble, but be encouraged, be of good courage, I have overcome the world.  Praying that you take responsibility for your own actions.  That you won’t be quick to blame, but quick to forgive others, that you won’t be tempted to blame God, but quick to ask Him first, before saying or taking action, and that you will always Trust Him, even when you don’t fully understand yet.  What the devil intended for evil, God can turn it around, and turn it for good.  “Then I went in to your sanctuary and understood the destiny of the wicked.  Surely you place them on slippery ground; You cast them down into ruin.”  Praying that you will ask God first, so you don’t get tempted to blame Him later.  That you won’t ever be foolish, but humble, wise and faithful. 
 
Love you all,
dad