Blame Game

Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise.. (Ephesians 5:15)

A Massachusetts man facing a criminal complaint for failing to appear for jury duty apparently had a good excuse. He had been dead for five years. The late Georgetown resident was issued a notice to serve on jury duty five years ago in 2006 but at the time he was in hospice care and had cancer. He died a few months later but the commission continued to send letters about his failure to report. Wylie's family says they tried to tell authorities that he had died but officials say the family never sent a death certificate.

Difficult to know who was at fault there, but the blame game is common. Even in the lives of believers, this is not uncommon. Believers pitted against believers and ministers against ministers. Of course, everyone has their side of the story and it may be very convincing. But is that part of the real christian life that Jesus taught?

The Apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Philippi,
If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. (Philippians 2:2)

Likemindedness and being one in spirit was what Paul taught. He also wrote,
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3, 4)

Considering others better than ourselves, however spiritual we be, can bring greater unity among the body of believers. Shall we strive for that then?