Pay The Price

I wish I had a dollar for each time I have told students not to blame others for their bad grades. We live in an age where everybody wants to blame others for the things that happen to them. True, some situations happen to us over which we have no control, but more times than not, we are subject to the consequences of our own decisions and actions. I preach to them to not blame their teachers, their parents, their job, or their after-school extra-curricular activities for their low grades. When it is all said and done, regardless who is actually at fault, they will be the ones that will have to suffer and pay the price. Taking responsibility is one of the most important functions of being an adult. But how many adults have failed to adequately learn this lesson?

There have most likely been times when we adults have ignored our own decisions and decided to place the blame on someone or something else around us. But if we are true to ourselves, we will need to decide to participate in a self-examination and "fix" those areas of our lives in which we blame on others. No matter whom or what we choose to blame, we ultimately will pay the price. It is so easy to pretend a problem doesn't exist or that it is somebody Else's fault. But we can only run from the truth so long. Jesus is that Truth! If you find yourself in this delima today, ask Jesus to help. We can not do anything without Him, and if we continue to try to, we will find ourselves lost in a maze of confusion and frustration. When we finally face up to the Truth and decide to place the blame squarely on our own shoulders, only then can we finally live a free, happy life that Jesus desires for us all.

Matthew 7:3 says, "And why worry about a speck in your friend's eye when you have a log in your own."

Father, please forgive us for blaming others for our bad decisions. Give us the strength through Christ to stand-up and face the Truth. In Jesus name, Amen.