“Then another message came to me from the LORD: “Why do you quote this proverb concerning the land of Israel: ‘The parents have eaten sour grapes, but their children’s mouths pucker at the taste’? As surely as I live, says the Sovereign LORD, you will not quote this proverb anymore in Israel. For all people are mine to judge—both parents and children alike. And this is my rule: The person who sins is the one who will die.
“Therefore, I will judge each of you, O people of Israel, according to your actions, says the Sovereign LORD. Repent, and turn from your sins. Don’t let them destroy you! Put all your rebellion behind you, and find yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O people of Israel? I don’t want you to die, says the Sovereign LORD. Turn back and live!”
Ezekiel 18:1-4, 30-32 NLT
Jay Robison shares a story about a outgoing President who met with his successor in the Oval Office as He was transition in. As the new President was about to leave the former president gave him three envelopes when great difficulties arose.
After new President's honeymoon period ended - the United States experienced an economic downturn. He opened the 1st envelope. Inside a card read: “Blame me.”
The President thus began to blame the former President and his administration.
Then social upheaval brought about a critical domestic crisis. The President opened the 2nd envelope. Inside card “Blame my party.”
He then began to blame the opposite party for all the problems going on in the United States.
A year later, when foreign policy resulted in serious problems, at end of rope, the President opened the third envelope.
Inside, the card read: “Prepare three envelopes.”
You can only blame other people and circumstances so long until you have to take responsibility. It is true, our society wants to avoid responsibility as long as we can.
So it was in Ezekiel's day when people were blaming everyone but themselves.
They were saying, “The way of the Lord is not right. What’s going on in our suffering is not our fault." They refused to own up to their sins and responsibilities.
Consider the following two things in regard to blaming others about the problems in your life.
1. Stop Playing The Blame Game
We are all touched by the hand of the past, no one is the master of his or her fate. You didn’t ask to be born to who you were born to. We come into world under circumstances we did not create.
“...The parents have eaten sour grapes, but their children’s mouths pucker at the taste’?” Ezekiel 18:2 NLT
They were blaming their parents for their problems but the fact was this - they were responsible for their own sins.
Who do you blame for your life?
- GENETICS, "I can’t do this or that because of genes."
- FAMILY, "I grew up in dysfunctional family can’t do better."
- GOVERNMENT, "My life is hard because of the government."
- SCHOOLS, "The Teacher didn’t teach me."
- Or GOD, "He could have made things different.
Consider the costs of BLAMING. It pushes people away. It harms marriages. It breeds arrogance, etc.
No matter how much fault we find with another, regardless of how much we blame someone, it will not change us.
2. Accept Responsibility For Your Own Life
Each person is a part of society and each person stands alone.
- V. 3 tells us that we can't blame others.
- Vv. 5-9 tells us that those who act morally right and with integrity will live.
- Vv. 10-13 tells us that the righteousness of parents will not save their children.
- Vv. 14-18 tells us that a child is not responsible for their parents sin.
We must:
- Accept blame when we are responsible
- Address the root of the problem.
- Do what is right, whether it works out or not.
You cannot determine the hand you were dealt in life, but you can decide how the hand is played.
Ezekiel called people to humbly approach to God.
Listen to how Vs 31-32...
“Put all your rebellion behind you, and find yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O people of Israel? I don’t want you to die, says the Sovereign LORD. Turn back and live!” Ezekiel 18:31-32 NLT
My life is not YOUR FAULT. It’s my OPPORTUNITY. No one in all of human history is exactly like you. You are one of a kind. You are not recycled.
I must accept personal responsibility for my life. It is not my parents fault or society’s fault. I can't blame my parents or my circumstances or even God. I have to blame myself.
It's time to take responsibility for ourselves. It is then that God will draw close to you.
“Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.” James 4:8-10 NLT
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