Today is a weird National Day Calendar Celebration. Anne Moeller of Clio, Michigan created this day in 1982. “One day, her alarm clock failed to go off, hence creating a domino effect of bad luck events throughout the day. Since the day happened to be on Friday the 13th, the observance takes place on the first Friday the 13th each year.”1
This is National Blame Someone Else Day.
Foolish superstitions abound even in a civilized nation like ours. Americans have good luck charms or rituals. Athletes might wear a “lucky” pair of shorts or a uniform that hasn’t been washed all season. They might have rituals they perform every game in fear that missing the ritual will cause a loss.
Other people have a “lucky” coin, pendant, medallion or something else that is carried everywhere to ward off any bad “luck.”
Then, there are all the negative superstitions: black cats, walking under ladders, opening an umbrella indoors, spilling salt, breaking a mirror, bad things always come in 3s, triskaidekaphobia, and paraskevidekatriaphobia – the fear of Friday the 13th.
What does this have to do with blaming someone else? Absolutely nothing! But the superstitious will say that it’s not their fault; it’s just bad luck – or it’s Friday the 13th.
Where do I start?!?
I’m not even going to touch on the nonsense of “luck.” Simply put, there is no such thing
as luck, good or bad. God is in control of all things, and everything happens according to His plan or design, even if we don’t know what that might be.
Instead, let’s talk about blaming others versus taking responsibility. Playing the blame game is nothing new. It all started in the Garden. After Adam and Eve took of the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, their eyes were opened, and they knew they sinned. In response to God’s questioning, they responded in Genesis 3:10-13, “And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. (11) And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? (12) And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. (13) And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.”
Another example of blaming is Moses. One day, the people were complaining about the need for water. God told Moses to speak to the rock and water would come forth. Instead, Moses struck the rock – twice! God was not pleased with Moses’ disobedience and told him that he was not going to enter the Promised Land. Moses is at fault, right? Listen to how he shifted the blame.
“Furthermore the LORD was angry with me for your sakes, and sware that I should not go over Jordan, and that I should not go in unto that good land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance: (22) But I must die in this land, I must not go over Jordan: but ye shall go over, and possess that good land.” (Deuteronomy 4:21-22)
Aaron blamed the people and Moses’ long delay on the mountain for creating the golden calf. King Saul blamed others for his disobedience to God’s commands. In the parable of the ten talents, the one guy blamed his failure to invest on his master, claiming that the master was a “hard man” and that he was afraid of making a bad investment.
It’s so much easier to blame other people rather than take responsibility. While King David serves as a great example of what not to do when it comes to relationships, he shows us what it means to take responsibility. Blaming others never works. We need to own up to our wrongs and make them right. Take David’s words to heart.
“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. (2) Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. (3) For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. (4) Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.” (Psalms 51:1-4)
1https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/national-day/national-blame-someone-else-day-first-friday-13
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