The Blame Game

“People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don’t believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can’t find them, make them.” ~ George Bernard Shaw

It seems like a lot of people these days are angry at God. Why does He allow babies to starve in third world countries, why does He allow bad things to happen, why does He — either actively or passively — cause so much grief? Recent studies indicate that nearly two thirds of people surveyed admit they sometimes feel angry at God in response to some current thing they are suffering with or when life seems unfair. It is called the blame game. 

People blame the government, blame others, and blame luck. And we blame God for the bad things that are happening to us. We can believe wholeheartedly in the sovereignty of God, yet we blame God for what he does in our life, in other’s lives, and in the world. “If God is so loving, why is there so much suffering in the world?” Or, “Why is life so unfair?” Or, “What have I done to deserve this?”  This has been happening since man first walked on the earth. 

God will bring trials into our lives. God will test us. “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.” (James 1:2–3). The question is will we blame God or will we have the faith to trust God. 

God is not asking us to deny reality, but He does ask us to view life through eyes of faith.

How do we view life with faith? 1 Thessalonians 5:18 tells us: “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” Notice that it says in all circumstances give thanks. That means even in trials of health, relationships, finances, accidents, and job losses, we thank God, because none of these things are able to separate us from His love.

In fact, God will use them all for our growth and His glory. We do not rejoice because we have a difficulty, but we rejoice in the midst of difficulty because we know that God loves us and that He will use anything that happens to us for our good.

Discussion questions

1. At some point we have all played the blame game. How fulfilling was it? What was the outcome? 
2. Read 1 Corinthians 10:13: Who/what causes sin in your life? Is sin a choice? Why or why not? Who is to blame for the choice made?