FEBRUARY 22, Proverbs 28:13

I should read this,” said May as she flipped open a small manual that had come with their new toaster. She started reading. “Some of these warnings are silly! Listen,” she said with a chuckle. “Do not put under water. Do not touch hot surfaces. Do not put fingers in slots. Anybody with any sense at all would know those things,” she said. “Why do they write such silly instructions?”

“They do seem pretty silly, but you might be surprised how many people would do some of those things,” replied Mom. “Then if the toaster breaks or they get hurt, they might blame the manufacturer if those warnings weren’t in the manual. Sometimes people go to court and sue for a lot of money.” “Even though it’s their own fault?” asked May’s brother, Aik Leng.

Mom nodded. “It’s human nature to blame somebody else,” she said. “Both Adam and Eve did it in the Garden of Eden, and people have been doing it ever since. Who do you think gets blamed more than anyone else?” “I do!” declared Aik Leng. “You do not,” scoffed May. “I’d say it’s God,” said Mom. “He gave detailed instructions on how to live, but people often ignore them. Then when something goes wrong, they blame God even though they’re the ones who didn’t follow His instructions.”

“Like you, Aik Leng, when you read that comic book when Mum told you to go to sleep last week,” May teased. “Serve you right when you hit your head when walking to the bed.”

“Hold it!” exclaimed Aik Leng. “I admit I wasn’t following Mom’s, Dad’s or God’s instructions, but I didn’t blame either them or Him for my fall. I accepted responsibility, and…,” Aik Leng paused and grinned at his sister. “And now I’m a model son,” he finished. May and Mom both laughed. Mom picked up the manual. “I don’t think we’ll need this again, so I’ll put it away. But be sure we don’t leave God’s instruction manual in a drawer. Let’s all read our Bibles every day and do what it says. Then we won’t be so tempted to play the ‘blame game.’”

Thought: Do you accept responsibility for what you do? Or do you look for someone to blame when something goes wrong? Do you even blame God?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to dare to own up to my mistakes and accept responsibility instead of blaming others. In that way, I may learn to be a better Christian and know that I need to improve every day. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.