“A man’s own folly subverts his way, yet his heart rages against the Lord.”
We
have become a people that thrive on blaming others.
Refusing
to accept responsibility for our own problems, we blame our families, bosses,
coaches, teachers, elected officials and ultimately we blame God… Anyone, but
the person in the mirror.
On
the surface this seems like a way to ease the pain of life, but it is actually the
opposite. It creates an environment of helplessness. We can’t fix what we didn’t
break…and if we convince ourselves that our anguish is the fault of others then
we are powerless to change it.
This
has produced a culture of anxiety and despair persuading us that we are victims
of things we cannot control….
But
humor me for a moment…Let’s pretend that some of your problems are your
fault…let’s assume that some of your difficulties are of your own making - and that
your foolishness has damaged your life…. What would that mean?
It
would mean you can fix it…
It
would mean you’re not a victim….You have control…you can pick up the phone and mend
a relationship, you can stop being paranoid about what others think, you can love
others instead of demanding you be loved first… all of a sudden this assumption
gives you power.
And
it is more than just an assumption…This verse states that our own folly is what
wrecks our lives… our sin creates chaos and bitterness in our world and brings
anger, pain and despair.
So,
change it.
Draw
a circle around yourself today and take complete responsibility for everything
that happens inside of that circle. Don’t worry about what happens outside of
it - but make sure you control everything inside - and control your responses
to whatever happens outside.
Then
instead of blaming God…Put your faith in Him. Let Him fight the enemies outside
of that circle, and you battle the one that is inside it.
You
will be amazed at the peace and rest that will come when you take back
responsibility for your life – and release the resentment you’ve held toward
others.
Control
what you can control – and rely on God to manage the rest.
“Beware
of no man more than of yourself; we carry our worst enemies within us.” - Charles Spurgeon
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