Focal Passages: Ruth 3:1-4:22
We can’t help but laugh at the small child with chocolate smeared on his hands and face when confronted with “Who ate the cupcake?” answers back “Not me.” He is just doing what his “dad” does.
I’m actually referring to Adam, the father of mankind. In Genesis 3 after Adam and Eve sinned, God asks if they ate of the fruit. Adam answers quickly, “The woman You gave to be with me … .” We live in a world that continually passes the buck. The concept of taking responsibility is far from people’s minds. It is always someone else’s fault. We seek to shed any ounce of responsibility. “My family was ….” “No one will give me a break ….” “They dared me to ….” The reason why some people have trouble with the Bible is because it keeps holding their feet to the fire. It doesn’t let us off the hook. God expects us to take responsibility for our actions. And that includes being responsible for our relationships.
Fathers, God has given us the responsibility to be the spiritual leaders of our families. Dad, God has tasked us with responsibility to watch over the physical and spiritual well being of our wives and children. We can’t neglect our families and then blame what happens on someone else. Be a man! Stand up and take responsibility.
Moms, God has given you the awesome privilege of shaping and molding your children into what God has designed them for. Our father Adam displayed at the start our human concept of not taking responsibility. He blamed Eve, but as you ponder what he said, he blamed God.
God, if You hadn’t given this woman (It’s interesting that he didn’t use her name) I wouldn’t be in this mess. We make mistakes; we sin and seek to blame it on someone or something else. It is time that we stop looking at others, and start taking our responsibilities seriously. We are responsible for our relationship with God and others.