“He started it.” – “No I didn’t. She did.”

“He touched me.” – “She looked at me.”

“I didn’t do it.”

“It’s not my fault.”

 “I couldn’t help it.”

The Blame Game. We have all played it, haven’t we? We blame other people, circumstances, surroundings – anything but taking responsibility ourselves. We often times blame other people for the decisions we make in life. Mostly we blame others when we make bad decisions, or at least not the best decisions. Strange, isn’t it? When good things happen, we love to take credit. But, when things go south, we are looking to shift blame. I remember the saying that when we point a finger at someone or something, there are several fingers pointing back to us. The truth eventually shows itself.

I was thinking this morning about trash. I’m not sure why that came to mind but it’s just one example of not taking responsibility. I bag up trash each week and set it out to be picked up. Then, my house looks clean and I don’t have to think about what happens to it after it leaves my driveway. The fact is, the trash I put out does make a difference. It makes a difference to the environment. It’s going someplace and making an impact there and beyond. Trash is only one example of how we can ignore our actions and push them off on someone else. But, those decisions always impact us as well as others.

Not accepting responsibility is nothing new. People have been shifting blame forever. It started in the Garden of Eden. Adam blamed Eve. Eve blamed the Serpent. The Israelites blamed Moses. On and on it goes – The Blame Game. It’s time to move on to another game and leave this Blame Game behind us. We know that there will come a day when we will be forced to accept responsibility. “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the Day of Judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:35-37)

We might as well admit our mistakes and accept responsibility for our actions, attitudes and words. God already knows everything about us and is ready to forgive us. We only need to admit and ask. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” Jesus prayed for us. In Luke 23:34 “Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing…”

Don’t we all appreciate it when someone admits their mistakes and takes responsibility instead of passing the buck? Let’s be that person. Humble and Honest (with ourselves and others and most importantly, with God). We are all in this game of life together but at the end of this age, we will all stand alone before God. I don’t know about you but I shudder to think of all the careless words I’ve spoken and the number of times I have played the Blame Game. Let’s live responsibly and make a positive difference this day. People are watching.