Today we continue with part 2 of our 3-part series from guest blogger/Twitterer @PKProblem…
In this next installment about misplaced guilt and misplaced blame, I wanted to touch on misplaced blame. Often times if we do not take on someone else’s guilt, we are placing blame on others for the guilt that we rightfully carry. Sometimes when we begin to get prideful or allow our priorities to lead us places outside of God’s will or provision, we take to blaming others wrongly for our current state and allow that blame to make us jaded to the leadings of the gospel.
My mother requested that some of her life insurance money go to buy me a new car upon her death. After she passed, in my senior year of high school, I ended up receiving a really awesome Chevy Cobalt. I loved that car and in many ways it became an idol in my life. I spent more money taking care of that car than I should have, washing it twice a week sometimes, using that car as a symbol of my status as a man, and even placing my identity in that car as opposed to Christ. Fast forward several months, I was dating a girl that I knew I shouldn’t have been dating. My best friend had called me earlier that night wanting me to come over to his house so we could finish recording some parts to some songs we had been working on but I declined thinking that I’d rather go out with my girlfriend that evening. On our way home from our date, we ended up getting into a wreck that totaled the vehicle.
I found myself blaming the people who hit me, blaming the officer who wrote me the ticket (wrongly, I might add), and even blaming my ex girlfriend for the accident. That misplaced blame turned into hatred and I allowed that hatred to grow and fester in my heart until it ruined several other relationships that I had with other friends. I blamed everyone but myself for that car being totaled. It wasn’t until sometime later that I realized that had my heart been in the right place, I would not have been in that accident much less dating that girl. I knew that how I was living my life was not at all how God wanted me to live it, but my heart was hardened and I chose to go my own way. Because I was so sure of my superiority, I could not bring myself to even think that I, of all the mere mortals surrounding me, could have erred.
This is nothing new. The bible has numerous examples of hardened hearts, in the story of David and Bathsheba; David’s heart was so prideful that he counted all that he had and ruled over, saw a woman that he did not have and wrongfully took her into his bed. When she became pregnant, David a attempted to blame her husband, Uriah, and when his plans failed, he had her husband killed. David lived with his hardened heart, not even batting an eyelash that what he had done displeased God.
After the baby had been born, Nathan the prophet came to David and told him about a rich man that stole a sheep from a poor man. The bible said that David burned with rage and said the rich man should be put to death. It wasn’t even until Nathan said “look, bro, that dude was you,” that David began to understand what he had done as a result of his hardened heart and misplaced blame.
By allowing pride to enter his heart, David lacked the humility to receive blame for the guilt that was rightfully his. When approached with the guilt that was rightfully his, he attempted to place the blame for his actions on someone else. In doing so, a man died as the result of David’s actions. I’m not saying that if you attempt to blame others for the guilt you rightfully carry that someone will die- or even that you will murder someone and become an adulterer. What I’m trying to stress is exactly how disastrous pride and lacking humility can be. In speaking to a large crowd and Pharisees, Jesus said: “But whoever has exalted himself, shall be humbled. And whoever has humbled himself, shall be exalted.” (Matthew 23:12)
In all actuality, there is no reason to blame others for our shortcomings. We can approach the throne of God in humility and seek forgiveness. Assuming that we can shake free our pride and rightfully recognize the guilt that we truly do carry, forgiveness has been made available to all. Paul writes writes to the Corinthians saying: “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
When we accept our shortcomings we find that God is glorified in our humility. Literally, all there is to do is to humble yourself and soften your heart and take in forgiveness. Christ died so that you may walk in freedom. “Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 5:20-21) There is nothing that you can do that Christ cannot forgive.
Simply come just as you are; without the guilt, without the blame you place on others, and with an open heart. Come before The Lord in humility that you “may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:18-19) Forgiveness has been granted to all and best of all; it’s been made free.
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Related Post:
– Do you Struggle With Misplaced Guilt?
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