If at first you don’t succeed, blame someone else.
This version of the saying seems to be far more popular these days than the traditional try, try again. These times are marked by a pervasive lack of resilience, a dismally low tolerance-level for taking risks, and an abject refusal to take responsibility for personal short-comings.
The fruit of the Spirit is . . . self-control. Self-control is the power of self-determination; it is the ability to take personal responsibility for your present position, and to make powerful resolutions about your future prospects.
Adam and Eve demonstrated a lack of self-control when confronted by God in the Garden of Eden. Instead of taking responsibility, they began to shift the blame. First Adam: That woman you gave me . . . So it’s the woman’s fault for giving Adam the fruit, and it’s God’s fault for giving Adam the woman. Then Eve chimes in: The serpent enticed me . . . So it’s that lyin devil’s fault!
Translation: Somebody is to blame, but it sure isn’t me!
Blame shifting is the act of playing the victim. Adam and Eve were both victims of circumstances that were beyond their control!
How about the man at the pools of Bethesda in John 5? Jesus asks him a simple question: Do you want to get well? It’s a simple, straight-forward, yes-or-no question! But does Jesus get a simple, straight-forward, yes-or-no answer? No.
The man immediately breaks into a sob story about his past. I have no one . . . He’s standing in the presence of the resurrection and the life and all he can do is make excuses for his present situation? Come on!
Now let me ask you a question. It may hurt, but know that I’m only asking you this because I love you.
How much self-control are you exhibiting in the area of your financial situation? Are you broke? Have you taken responsibility for your broke condition, or are you still blaming others?
The blogosphere is ablaze with the recent statement made by Jack Ma, CEO of Alibaba. If you’re still poor at 35, says Ma, you deserve it. I don’t fully agree with Ma’s statement because it suggests that there are no economic ramifications of oppression. We cannot pretend that oppression does not exist, and we cannot fail to recognize its long-term economic effects.
But we must move on. Jesus is standing before us right now saying, Do you want to get well? It’s a simple, straight-forward, yes-or-no question! Behind it is the power of the Abrahamic blessing, the promises of Deuteronomy 28, and the promise of the power to create wealth!
Do you want to get financially well? Yes, I’m ready is the correct answer to that question!
The anointing of the Holy Spirit is ready to come on you right now, if you’ll just make a decision: I’m not going to be broke any more! I’m going to reach for the next level! I’m going to learn how to identify and take the right risks! And I’m going to be more resilient than I’ve ever been before! I’m not going to quit that job because the boss was hard on me! I’m not going to quit school again because the test was too hard! I’m going to be resilient!
No one can rise up for you; you must rise up.
No one can believe for you; you must believe.
No one can do the hard work for you; you must do the hard work.
But if you will rise up, believe, and do the hard work, you will reap a harvest in due time!
Take responsibility for where you are. Make some resolutions about where you’re going.
And if at first you don’t succeed . . . you know what to do.
