The Blame Game

January 19, 2016

The Blame Game

Proverbs 19:3

The foolishness of man undermines his way [ruining whatever he undertakes];

Then his heart is resentful and rages against the Lord [for, being a fool, he blames the Lord instead of himself].

Matthew Henry concise commentary:

Men run into troubles by their own folly, and then fret at the appointments of God.

Miyagi’s commentary

God gets blamed for everything.  Have you ever heard people say “If there is a God, then why am I always broke and why can’t I get a good job and why would He allow this and that to happen?”  The answer is that there is a thing call “consequences.”  For every action of man, there is a consequence that follows.  God made man with the agency of free choice.  So man goes out and makes stupid and foolish choices and ends up ruining his life.  Then instead of looking inward and reflecting on his own bad choices, he blames God.  People do this all the time so that they don’t have to take responsibility for their own actions.  It is much easier to blame someone else.  

The Scripture tells us “for the wages of sin is death...” (Rom 6:23).   So if man chooses to sin, guess what?  Death will follow….first spiritual death….then physical death.  So how can one go about making wise decisions so as not to fall into all these stupid traps that he sets himself up for?  If you lack wisdom, ask God for it.   Seek His word and His counsel on any given matter.  Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding (proverbs 3:5).  God is right there, ready and available to help us.  And what do people do?  Everything under the sun and when they run into the wall, they blame God.  How incredibly senseless and stupid people can be.  If they had sought counsel from God, God would have saved them from many heartaches and disappointments.  God is a good God.  Man is basically dumb.  That is why they are call “sheep.”  Without the shepherd, they will go astray….every time.

Summary conclusion:

Seek God first.  Seek God early.  Seek God often.  And then listen to His counsel.  Then you will be saved from many unnecessary troubles.

Psalm 38:5

My wounds are loathsome and foul

Because of my foolishness.

Matthew Henry concise commentary

Verses 1-11 Nothing will disquiet the heart of a good man so much as the sense of God's anger. The way to keep the heart quiet, is to keep ourselves in the love of God. But a sense of guilt is too heavy to bear; and would sink men into despair and ruin, unless removed by the pardoning mercy of God. If there were not sin in our souls, there would be no pain in our bones, no illness in our bodies. The guilt of sin is a burden to the whole creation, which groans under it. It will be a burden to the sinners themselves, when they are heavy-laden under it, or a burden of ruin, when it sinks them to hell. When we perceive our true condition, the Good Physician will be valued, sought, and obeyed. Yet many let their wounds rankle, because they delay to go to their merciful Friend. When, at any time, we are distempered in our bodies, we ought to remember how God has been dishonoured in and by our bodies. The groanings which cannot be uttered, are not hid from Him that searches the heart, and knows the mind of the Spirit. David, in his troubles, was a type of Christ in his agonies, of Christ on his cross, suffering and deserted.

Miyagi’s commentary

When a person can finally see the true condition of his heart, he will see the reason for his troubles.  When a person looks into the mirror and asks himself some difficult questions, he will be shown the path to take.  To admit and confess one’s sin is the beginning.  God loves a broken and contrite heart (Psalm 51:17).  He can work to restore that.  But one has to come to that state.  If he continues to blame God for his troubles, he will never be free from them, for he has no understanding.  With understanding, one is set free because he knows what he did wrong and why.  He, then, can repent and make a change.  People with no understanding continues to make stupid mistakes upon stupid mistakes, not knowing why their life is a royal mess.

Summary conclusion:

Get wisdom...and in all your getting….get understanding.   And when you look into the mirror, you will find the source of your troubles.  Then turn to God for help.  Admit, confess, and repent of your sins.  He is waiting to restore you.  

The Big Picture:

God loves His children and will never cause harm to them.  But He will allow it to happen to the point where they will have to run to Jesus for refuge.   God is wise.  HE desires that man gains wisdo and walk in wisdom. But if man chooses to walk in foolishness, he will allow them to.  Sometimes, the severe consequences of one’s sin can become a very good teacher.  

The Byword

You can learn from wisdom or you can learn from painful consequences.  But if you have the option, why choose to suffer?  Stop playing the blame game.  

Miyagi