When I was in the university and I got an excellent grade in a course, I was quick to say ‘Wow! Thank God the time I spent in the library was not a waste’. But when I got a poor grade, I concluded that my lecturer must have been in a bad mood when he was scoring my answers. I rarely want to be held responsible for my poor results. This attitude started some millenniums ago.
Yes! Adam showed us the way. When he ate the forbidden fruit and God questioned him, he lamented “the woman you gave me as a companion, she gave me fruit from the tree, and, yes, I ate it”. As far as he was concerned, God was the initiator and his woman was the executor of the reason for his disobedience.
The same is true today. Weak minds are saying the reason why I don’t get results is because dad, uncle, boss, school, environment, opportunity, friends, spouse, etc. did not cooperate with me. Conversely, great minds have been distinguished over the years by their willingness to take charge of their lives and accept responsibility for whatever happened to them.
Most times when I have a chat with the poor, losers, bankrupt or failures, it does not take five minutes to hear them echo the names of people/events responsible for their state, though it may be the result of their actions. Maybe that is why they are where they are.
I admire the attitude of Joshua which affirms – “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord”. This accepts responsibilities, even when a mistake is made. Men with this attitude later find themselves in their promise land.
tope aladenusi
