Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Anger”
Our Bible verse for today: “I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, love the Lord your God, obey Him, and remain faithful to Him. For He is your life …” Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (HCSB)
Our thought for today: “You are not a victim. You are responsible for the consequences of your choices.”
For many people a common source of unresolved anger is the notion that they’ve been treated unfairly and other people are responsible for their circumstances. That’s a loser’s game and it’s guaranteed to cause more harm than good. Other people may play a role in contributing to our circumstances, but ultimately each of us is responsible for the choices we make and for the consequences of those choices.
There are few concepts taught more frequently or emphatically in the Bible. Over and over again God’s messengers have urged God’s people to think carefully about their choices and to make choices that are consistent with God’s will – then own the consequences of your choices. That’s the point Moses was making to the nation of Israel in Deuteronomy 30:19-20. “You made your choices in the past and you are therefore responsible for your circumstances in the present.”
This is truer than we realize. Sometimes it’s obvious – like if you haven’t taken good care of yourself in the past and therefore now have serious health problems in the present. So don’t get mad at the doctors because they’re not doing a good enough job of fixing your problem. You caused this so now you need to take the steps to fix it. Likewise, if you’ve had bad money management practices in the past and therefore you’re now facing bankruptcy. That’s your fault. Don’t be mad at the world, be mad at yourself.
Sometimes this truth is a little less obvious but it’s still true none-the-less. Are you unhappy with your job? Well, why do you have that job to begin with? It’s because you made choices in the past about how much or how little education you would have, and in which field of training. You made choices about which companies or organizations you would apply to. You made choices over the years of whether to stay with this job or to seek another. You have the job you have today because of the choices you have made in the past. Own your choices; take responsibility for your situation; and deal with it Biblically.
Is your spouse behaving badly? Their behavior may be 100% their fault and 0% your fault but it’s still true that at some point in the past you made a choice to bring this person into your life. So now you have to deal with the consequences of that choice. It does not mean that you shouldn’t be angry with them for their inappropriate behavior, you should be. But it does mean that this person is in your life to begin with because you allowed them to be. It was your choice. Now deal with the consequences of that choice in a Biblical manner.
It may be true that other people may have contributed to your present circumstances but still, it’s your life and therefore your responsibility. Don’t allow yourself to be eaten-up with simmering anger and resentment. That will only make things worse.
Deal with whatever the situation is and deal with it in a Biblical manner. Make changes if you need to. Set a new course for your life if you believe that’s called for; but don’t get caught in the trap of blaming others and of being angry because you believe they’re responsible for your situation. It’s your life; you need to own it.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 