It’s so easy to forget that everything is God’s. As soon as we lose sight of that, we automatically start down the wide path that leads to destruction.

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. – Matthew 7:13-14

Whenever I think something is MINE, or my responsibility, I immediately am confronted with the FEAR of losing it. So I try to CONTROL what I can, and when that doesn’t work, I cover it up with LIES. When it all falls apart, then I BLAME someone.

Let’s watch the Pharisees play this out in John chapter 9.

MINE – The Pharisees felt responsible for the Sabbath:

Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath. Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. 

FEAR – Their unity was being threatened by Jesus:

Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others asked, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” So they were divided.

CONTROL – They tried to get his parents to rein him in:

They still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?”

LIES – They tried avoiding the facts by making up things about Jesus:

A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.”

BLAME – When all else failed, they made it the healed man’s fault:

Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses! We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.”

These are all attributes of the devil. It’s his path. It’s the wrong path.

• MINE – The thief comes only to steal – John 10:10
• FEAR – him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death – Hebrews 2:14-15
• CONTROL – the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will – 2 Timothy 2:26
• LIES – the devil… is a liar and the father of lies – John 8:44
• BLAME – the devil,… the accuser of our brothers and sisters – Revelation 12:9-10

None of this is from God. It’s the opposite in the kingdom.

• MINE – “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?” For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. – Roman 11:35-36
• FEAR – God is love…. There is no fear in love. – 1 John 4:16-18
• CONTROL – It is for freedom that Christ has set us free – Galatians 5:1
• LIES – Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life” – John 14:6
• BLAME – For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more – Hebrews 8:12