Pass It On—or Not!

Pass It On—or Not!

Don’t point your finger at someone else and try to pass the blame!

Hosea 4:4

I cut my teeth playing the popular board game Monopoly. I loved all the fake cash that enabled me to amass property, build hotels, and then charge outrageous rent to players unlucky enough to land on them. I was so intent on winning that I prayed God would give me an edge, then cried when I discovered he wasn’t interested in doing so. Of course, I was only eight years old at the time. I’ve since learned that my fascination with the game is shared by people everywhere; more than one billion people have played it. Despite that, there is another game that’s far more popular, one that most people on earth have played—not just once, but many times.

This game first took place in the Garden of Eden, and Adam and Eve were the first to play it. No, it wasn’t croquet. It was the blame game. Remember what Adam said when God asked him about that bite-size chunk he’d taken out of the forbidden fruit? Quick as lightning, the first man pointed his finger at the first woman and said, “She made me do it!” Then Eve joined in the game, saying, “The serpent tricked me. That’s why I ate it.”

In our house, the blame game might go something like this. I blame Katie. Katie turns around and blames Luci. Luci turns around and blames the dog. And the dog turns around and bites the cat. Okay, we don’t always play it in exactly that sequence with such disastrous results for the cat, but I assure you we play it. Your family probably does too. But what’s the point? Does blaming others really make us feel better? And can any of us ever win such a game?

The truth is that playing the blame game on a regular basis is a terrific way to destroy the peace at home, at work, and at church. So remember: when you’re dealing with blame, it’s always a good idea to pass it on—not!

Father, please put a check in my spirit whenever I start to play the blame game. Help me to step back and think honestly about the things that are bothering me, taking responsibility as needed rather than passing my frustration on.