The first step in overcoming sin is to admit that we are the ones who are responsible. To look for someone else to blame is to evade the real issue.

A man in a parking lot backed into another car. He simply didn’t look to see if the way was clear, and he was obviously at fault. But he jumped out of his car, yelled furiously at the woman driving the car he hit, and told her it was her fault for getting in his way. I learned later that he continued to blame her when he spoke to his insurance agent. Eventually she was cleared, but only after going through tremendous anguish.

This is similar to what happened in the Garden of Eden. After Adam ate the forbidden fruit, he said he wasn’t to blame. It was the fault of the woman God had made.

Sometimes we respond like that. When we do something wrong, we immediately look for someone to blame, even if it’s God. But James says we sin because we listen to our own selfish desires.

Troubled by a sin that won’t go away? Maybe you’re not overcoming it because you are blaming someone else. You might even be blaming God because He didn’t stop you from doing it. Nonsense! You’ll never conquer your sin until you’re willing to say, “It’s my fault!”

  — David C. Egner