It’s been happening for ages. Perhaps since the beginning of mankind. Or at least since mankind has taken on responsibility. Even in scripture, John chapter 5, Jesus asks a simple, straight-forward question in verse six. “Do you want to get well?” The paralytic man of which the question is asked does not answer the question. In fact, he does not even attempt to answer the question posed to him. Look at his response, “Sir, I don’t have anyone to put me into the pool when it is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”
Where in this man’s response do you see an answer to Jesus’ question, “Do you want to get well?” It is not there, is it? Not even an attempt. If I am sick with a cold, or any minor ailment, much less a terminal disease, and someone asks me the same six-word question, I know my response. It will always be an emphatic, “YES!”
It seems today, that no matter our life situation, we are much like the paralytic man in the story above. We are more prone to give excuses than we are to accept responsibility. In individual lives people pass the blame on their employer not paying enough, the government or other group holding us back, other races, cultural groups, on and on. In the church and other organizations, it is similar. It is the economy, the big church that moved in down the street, the neighborhood has changed. These are all outside circumstances over which we have no influence.
You cannot change that over which you have no influence. Since you have no control over those outside circumstances, stop using them as excuses. Look around and inside yourself to find the greatness God has placed in you. These are the only items that you do have control over. These are the things you can act upon.
Passing the blame will never advance you or your organization. It will only lead to more muck and mire. Accept who you are. Discover who God made you to be. Then strive to become that person whom God desires and declared you to be.
As a church or organization, you can do the same. Discover what God has placed within your employees/members. Learn how to effectively put those gifts and resources to use to be exactly who God created you to be. I can help if you will contact me. This is how God has gifted me, and who He created me to be! Also, pick up your copy of Reaching the Summit. The premise of this book is to help you do exactly that – become who God created you to be.
This year, will you make a commitment to stop making excuses of things out of your sphere of influence and control? Instead of passing the blame will you accept responsibility for your part in moving your organization, your life, forward? That’s who God created you to be. What is your first step?
George Yates is the Church Health Strategist for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions, assisting churches and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life. Learn more at ALSBOM.org/revitalization.
