“You become effective by being selective.”

A thought by Rick Warren, (2012-10-23) from his book, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? (Purpose Driven Life, The) (p. 42). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

I can’t help reading in Facebook all the people who are playing the blame game.  For so many they blame the Democrats, specifically President Obama.  Look how his policies are hurting America.  For others it’s the Republicans.  They are holding up what needs to be done.  It’s their fault.

There are others that say that it is my parents fault.  They are the reason why my life is the way it is, or my husband, or my kids.  In truth we are looking to find whose fault it is that I am in the mess that I’m in.  When I find that out then I am going to blame them.

There is a great story in the Gospel of John about this blind man that Jesus healed.  The disciples wanted to know whose fault it was for his being blind.  In John 9 (Msg), “Jesus said, ‘You’re asking the wrong question.  You’re looking for someone to blame.  There is no such cause-effect here.  Look instead for what God can do.’” 

I wonder how effective we would become if we would become selective and “look instead for what God can do”.  Look for what He can do in our relationships, in our finances, in our families, in our jobs, in our emotions, in our future, in our present, in our lives. in our country.

Now granted in many of our situations there is a cause-effect.  We’ve put our trust in the wrong thing, or the wrong person, or done the wrong thing and problems have come.   But blaming will not make a difference.  It will only absolve us of our responsibility in our situation.  Accept the blame for what you have done, confess that to God then look for what God can do in your life, in your situation. 

Later in John 10 (Msg) Jesus said, “I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they dreamed of.”  So why in the world are we playing the blame game when we could let Jesus give us a more and better life than we ever dreamed of?  It doesn’t make sense does it?    

By the way, Jesus healed the blind man and He wants to heal your situation.  Let’s quit wasting our energy on blaming and let’s “look instead for what God can do”. 

So are you looking at who to blame or for what God can do?